#africanews #france
In February 2024, France announced an amendment to the French constitution that would abolish the right of birth citizenship status to one of its territories, which is technically a part of Africa. Now, if the amendment is approved, it would mean that this territory is the only one subjected to this rule. So, why is France making this decision, and is it justified? Let's find out in this video.
Situated between Mozambique and Madagascar, off the coast of south-east Africa, is an Island known as Mayotte. Although Mayotte is some 7,500 kilometers from mainland France, it is actually a part of France and is referred to as French Overseas territory. Now, in case you are wondering whether or not this Island is supposed to be part of African territory just like Comoros Island or Madagascar. Technically it ought to be because Mayotte which is made up of two main islands form part of a chain known as the Comoro Islands, which France colonised in the 19th century. However, when most of the Islands voted to split off into an independent country named the Comoros in the 1970s, Mayotte alone voted to remain part of France. And, despite repeated objections from the United Nations and the African Union, urging France not to break up the archipelago, in line with international law, France refused and went on to claim Mayotte as part of its own. At first, it occupied a sort of provisional status for decades before becoming a full French overseas department in 2011, meaning that in theory, its legal and social system would be equal to the rest of France.
