Macron enters into furious expletive-laden exchange in Mayotte

French President Emmanuel Macron engaged in a war of words with locals in an angry exchange during his two-day visit to Mayotte.

He made the journey to assess the extent of the damage and offer his support to the people of the Indian Ocean archipelago after a devastating cyclone hit last week. 

However, amid tense scenes, Macron was heckled on Thursday night by local people who were furious at France’s response to the disaster. 

Chants of “resign” swirled while others booed and demanded more assistance.

“Don’t pit people against each other,” the French president said. “If you pit people against each other, we’re scr*wed, because you’re happy to be in France. Because if this wasn’t France, you’d be 10,000 times more in the sh*t.”

“Which other territory in this region delivers water, supplies and nurses as we do here,” he asked.

Macron’s presence was met with anger from the get-go. Residents told him that many were still without food, water, and electricity.

Cyclone Chido ripped through the island last Saturday, destroying entire neighbourhoods and causing damage to infrastructure.

French authorities confirmed at least 31 deaths, but this number is expected to be much higher. There are fears that hundreds, if not thousands, of people have died.

The visit was initially supposed to be on Thursday, but the French president said he extended his stay overnight as a mark of respect.

French politicians criticise Macron’s comments

His comments in Mayotte have sparked backlash back in mainland France. “Macron humiliated the relatives of thousands of victims,” Alma Dufour, an MP for the far-left France Unbowed party, wrote on X.

“We’ve got the biggest human catastrophe since World War II and we’re putting on a Macron show,” said Sandrine Rousseau, a Green MP, in an interview with France 2.