French parliament speaker to visit cyclone-ravaged Mayotte island

Yaël Braun-Pivet, the President of the French National Assembly, is set to visit Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, from January 9-11.

Report informs via French media that the purpose of her visit is to assess the aftermath of the devastating tropical cyclone Chido and evaluate the needs of the local population severely affected by the disaster.

The visit comes three weeks after the destructive cyclone hit the Indian Ocean archipelago. It aims to prepare for the parliamentary debates on the emergency bill for Mayotte, which will be presented to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, and to assess the current needs and measures taken "on the ground."

Braun-Pivet will be accompanied by Estelle Youssouffa, a member of parliament representing Mayotte, who has been critical of the measures taken by the French government.

On December 14, 2024, Mayotte was battered by Cyclone Chido, with wind gusts exceeding 55 m/s. According to local authorities, around 40 people lost their lives, and 5,600 were injured due to the cyclone's impact.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the island in the second half of December. However, local citizens booed the French president, expressing dissatisfaction with the measures taken by Paris to assist those affected. They also demanded Macron's resignation.