evidence: Mayotte, a French archipelago in the Indian Ocean located between Madagascar and the Mozambican coast, is a remnant of the French colonial past. Historically, Mayotte belonged to a larger archipelago composed of three main islands (Anjouan, Mohéli and Grande Comore), which France colonised in the 19th century. After more than 100 years of French colonial rule, an auto-determination referendum was organised in 1974. All, except Mayotte, voted in favour of independence. Despite the UN’s plea to respect the archipelago’s territorial integrity, France decided to recognise the results separately. Mayotte remained French and the other islands went to form the Union of the Comoros, which still claims Mayotte as its territory. Today, Mayotte is the poorest French department, with more than 80 per cent of its population living under the poverty line and lack access to functioning public services. 40 per cent of the housing is made up of shanties. For years, French authorities have blamed the situation on irregular migration from the Comoros. It is estimated that about half of Mayotte’s 300,000 inhabitants are not French nationals, although one-third of foreigners are born on the island.