Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANTANANARIVO823
2007-08-20 05:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:  

MORE COMORANS DROWN ON FAILED CROSSING TO MAYOTTE

Tags:  PHUM PREL CN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4328
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHAN #0823 2320511
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200511Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0225
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000823 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/FO
ADDIS FOR USAU
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
PRETORIA FOR POLCOUNS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL CN
SUBJECT: MORE COMORANS DROWN ON FAILED CROSSING TO MAYOTTE

REF: A) ANTANANARI 815

B) ANTANANARI 757

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000823

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/FO
ADDIS FOR USAU
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
PRETORIA FOR POLCOUNS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL CN
SUBJECT: MORE COMORANS DROWN ON FAILED CROSSING TO MAYOTTE

REF: A) ANTANANARI 815

B) ANTANANARI 757


1. (U) Seventeen illegal immigrants reportedly drowned August 13
when their boat capsized while trying to evade the French Coast
Guard as they tried to cross from the Union of the Comoros island of
Anjouan to the nearby French territory of Mayotte. At least 30
people have died trying to make this crossing in the last two years,
although this is probably a very low estimate, based on ships or
wrecks that are found by French Mayotte coast guard. Tens of
thousands of Comorans attempt the 44-mile crossing each year, hoping
to find opportunity, and a higher quality of health care, in Mayotte
when there is virtually none in the independent Union of the Comoros
(REF B). French Mayotte authorities told the media 14,000 illegal
immigrants - most from the Comoros - were expelled in 2006.


2. (SBU) The scale of this illegal immigration problem - tens of
thousands compared to the Comoros' total population of about 700,000
- reflects the dramatic disparity between the independent Union of
the Comoros and the French protectorate of Mayotte. Media reports
suggest that French President Sarkozy's tough stance on illegal
immigration has led to enhanced enforcement in Mayotte. President
Sambi told EmbOffs August 14 (REF A) that he has discussed the
illegal immigration problem at length with French officials. He
asserts that the people of Mayotte are Comoran, and the people of
all four islands are "one nation." Sambi further shared with us
that he has told French officials they should spend a fraction of
the millions of euros it costs to repatriate illegals on investment
in the Comoros' economic development. If the French helped create
jobs in the Comoros, the President reasoned, fewer people would
attempt to emigrate illegally and dangerously to Mayotte.

MARQUARDT