Reports have emerged alleging the use of aggressive tactics by French security forces intercepting migrants attempting to reach the French island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. A collaborative investigation by “Der Spiegel”, Lighthouse Reports and several media partners details accounts from twenty migrants claiming police intentionally destabilized their vessels, either through the creation of disruptive waves or direct ramming.
French authorities have officially documented five fatal collisions near the island in recent years, resulting in the deaths or disappearance of at least 24 individuals. Investigators believe the actual number of casualties may be significantly higher, representing a large “dark figure” of unreported losses.
Unnamed French officials have reportedly corroborated these allegations. One senior border guard admitted to actively blocking the migrants’ paths at sea and if they failed to halt their advance, ramming the bow of their smaller boats. Another official described a deliberate “s-shaped curve” maneuver employed during interceptions, creating waves that flood the migrant vessels.
Responding to these claims, French authorities have remained largely unresponsive to media inquiries. François-Xavier Bieuville, Prefect of the Mayotte department, has denied the accusations, asserting that operations at sea are solely focused on rescue efforts and frequently it is the migrants themselves who inadvertently damage the vessels of the security forces.