evidence: Wuambushu, officially announced in April, has revived debate on Mayotte, the poorest department in France, where most deportations on the entire French territory occur. [...] The operation has revived debates around French colonialism, specifically Mayotte’s status as a French department, made official in 2011. The Comoran archipelago fell under French colonial rule in the mid-19th century and voted overwhelmingly for independence from France in 1974, but Mayotte – representing 8% of the total electorate – was against. France held a second referendum in 1976, with similar results. The UN general assembly has condemned France’s presence in Mayotte. [...] France has significant economic interests in the Mozambique channel, and Mayotte allows control in one of the largest maritime exclusive economic zones in the world. "France is only there to enrich itself, not to develop the island," says Yousef. "France doesn’t want the island or the island’s population – all it wants is the riches around it."