Civil registry offices in Mayotte blocked for a month and a half
In Mayotte, a collective of citizens has been blocking civil registry offices for over a month, protesting against administrative dysfunctions. This action paralyzes essential services for residents. Local authorities are calling for the blockade to be lifted to restore access to official documents.
Mayotte, France's 101st department, is facing a persistent administrative crisis. For about six weeks, a collective of citizens has been blocking access to civil registry offices in several municipalities, particularly in Mamoudzou, the capital. This mobilization, started in mid-August 2025, aims to denounce chronic delays in issuing birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as endless waiting lines due to understaffing.
The collective, bringing together local associations and frustrated residents, argues that these dysfunctions particularly affect vulnerable populations, such as newborns without civil status or families awaiting documents for social aid. 'We can no longer tolerate our fundamental rights being trampled by a failing administration,' declared a movement spokesperson during a demonstration on September 15. According to testimonies, some residents wait up to several months for a simple birth certificate extract, worsening access to healthcare and education.
Departmental authorities have responded by promising additional recruitments and accelerated digitization of services, but without a precise timeline. The prefect of Mayotte described the blockade as 'detrimental to the entire population' and has engaged in discussions with the collective's representatives. However, no breakthrough has been announced to date. This situation fits into a broader context of tensions in Mayotte, where public infrastructure struggles to keep up with the archipelago's rapid demographic growth.
The implications of this blockade are profound: without access to records, thousands of Mayotte residents risk being deprived of essential civil rights. Calls are growing for stronger intervention from the central government, while others advocate for inclusive dialogue to address the roots of the administrative malaise.