Reports have emerged alleging aggressive tactics employed by French security forces against migrants attempting to reach the French island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. A collaborative investigation by “Der Spiegel”, Lighthouse Reports and partner media outlets has uncovered accounts from 20 migrants detailing instances where police allegedly destabilized their vessels. These tactics reportedly include creating disruptive waves and, in some cases, physically ramming the small boats.
French authorities have officially documented five fatal collisions near the island in recent years, resulting in the deaths or disappearances of at least 24 individuals. Investigators caution that the actual number of casualties could be significantly higher.
Sources within the French border police, speaking anonymously, appear to corroborate these accounts. One senior border guard reportedly admitted to proactively “blocking the route” of migrant vessels. In situations where migrants do not halt their progress, the guard stated, the police ram the bow of the smaller boats. Another officer described deliberately executing an “s-shaped curve” during interception maneuvers, creating waves that destabilize the migrant vessels.
French authorities have so far declined to respond to requests for comment on these allegations. Francois-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of the Mayotte department, strongly refuted the accusations, asserting that operations are solely focused on rescue efforts and that migrant vessels themselves often pose a hazard to law enforcement craft. The full extent of the practices and their impact remain under scrutiny.
