Mamoudzou, August 26, 2026 — French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu arrived in Mayotte on Wednesday for a 48-hour visit focused on post-cyclone Chido reconstruction. Eighteen months after the disaster, the verdict is damning: of the €674 million budgeted for rebuilding, only 11.7% of the credits have actually been spent in 2026.
Structural Bottlenecks
The Prime Minister acknowledged that « reconstruction is not moving fast enough ». The obstacles are multiple: slow administrative procedures, persistent land registry disorder, a shortage of local engineering capacity and payment delays that discourage local firms. Despite a substantial budget envelope, much of the island remains in a state of disrepair.
The situation is all the more alarming because Mayotte — France's poorest department — already faced major structural challenges before cyclone Chido struck in December 2024.
Commitments Described as 'Final and Irreversible'
Responding to these findings, Lecornu announced a series of structural projects described as « final and irreversible »: a second hospital, an extension of the Mayotte Hospital Centre (CHM), a new airport, a penitentiary, a water desalination plant and a water retention reservoir. These projects will be progressively launched before 2027.
Monthly Oversight Committee
To speed up budget execution, an inter-ministerial committee will now meet monthly under the authority of Matignon. Performance indicators will be published regularly. Lecornu announced he will return to the island in early 2027 to assess progress.
Why It Matters
For business actors across the Indian Ocean, Mayotte's reconstruction carries regional significance. The archipelago is a strategic entry point between East Africa and the Indian Ocean. Effective reconstruction could unlock sustainable economic infrastructure, attract investment in fisheries, tourism and digital sectors, and consolidate France's presence in a basin undergoing rapid geopolitical realignment.
Source: Le Journal de Mayotte (August 26, 2026)