Comment “le mur de fer” promis contre l’immigration clandestine à Mayotte s’est enlisé

The "Iron Wall" promise against clandestine immigration in Mayotte has hit a snag. Following a visit to the French department by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on August 25-26, 2026, three local politicians expressed concerns over the project's delays. Sénateur Saïd Omar Oili criticized the initiative as "a smoke screen," while Sénateur Thani Mohamed Soilihi and Deputy LIOT Estelle Youssouffa called the outcome "non-existent."

An official call for tender published on August 12 unveiled the extent of the project's setbacks. The "Uhura wa shaba" plan, named after the local language meaning "iron wall," aims to deploy a comprehensive surveillance system, including radar interceptors, by the end of 2025. However, the detailed regulations indicate that the fully operational system may not be ready until 2029 or even 2030.

The tender process, set to begin in late 2026, includes a 33-month preparation phase followed by a 51-month execution phase. This delay is unacceptable, as said by Sénateur Oili. The government's decision to outsource the project to the private sector raises concerns over sovereignty, as noted by Deputy Youssouffa. Current radar systems are less effective than previous ones, having suffered significant damage during Cyclone Chido in early 2025.

While the ministry acknowledges the incomplete coverage, it claims recent measures have addressed the issue. However, a recent report highlights that these radars still lack the detection range of older models. According to tender projections, the "Iron Wall" was supposed to intercept 20,000 irregular migrants annually, compared to 4,584 in 2025.

Despite this, the ministry argues that their actions have included procurement of "intervention capabilities for law enforcement forces," "training in sea interception," and planned increases in detention capacities for 2027. The Interior Ministry did not respond to POLITICO's inquiries, and the Prime Minister's office confirmed that combating clandestine immigration would be a key topic during Prime Minister Lecornu's visit to the island.