Traditional songs and dances welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron when he arrived this week on the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte — unlike his last visit, when he was greeted by furious, desperate residents reeling from a devastating cyclone.
But while daily life is improving, the impact of Cyclone Chido in December still dominated Macron’s latest trip to this archipelago near Madagascar, the poorest corner of France. Mayotte's worst cyclone in a century killed dozens and left more than 2,000 injured, flattened homes and cut off power, communications and water supplies.
After a contentious visit in December, Macron was careful as he toured Mayotte on Monday. He brought new promises for reconstruction aid for the territory's 320,000 residents, and for a crackdown on illegal immigration. French authorities estimate another 100,000 migrants live in Mayotte, many in tin-roof shantytowns easily flatted by storms.
Electricity and telephone service have now been restored, and the drinking water network is functioning again — though with intermittent outages because of chronic production shortages that often left Mayotte thirsty even before the cyclone.
“Mayotte isn’t down, but it isn’t up yet,” summarizes Estelle Youssouffa, a lawmaker representing Mayotte in France's National Assembly.
Residents of the village of Tsingoni — known for a centuries-old mosque considered the oldest operating in France — still come to their mayor for reconstruction help. Some homes still need roofs replaced, or to be entirely rebuilt.
When the president visited Tsingoni, Mayor Issilamou Hamada said he was afraid residents’ emotions would “overflow.”
During Macron's discussions with the local population, some told him that his earlier promises were still not being fulfilled.
“We feel alone. I lost everything, my nursing practice was in my house. The roof is gone, I no longer have a computer. I’ve been forced to work on my phone ever since,” said Siti Madi, who uses a temporary office in another village.
Residents said banks aren’t yet granting zero-interest loans that were promised for reconstruction. Authorities warn of health risks because waste caused by the cyclone hasn’t all been cleaned up. The department is also experiencing its first cases of chikungunya, a disease transmitted by mosquito bites.
Macron tried to reassure everyone.
“Is everything settled? No, we are in a stabilization phase. There are legitimate concerns, there are many things that still need to be improved. And we are in the process of addressing them,” he said.
The government presented two bills right after his visit that include tax breaks for businesses and the establishment of a structure dedicated to reconstruction, like the one Macron created for rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Estimating the cost of reconstruction at 3.2 billion euros ($3.6 billion), Macron acknowledged that the bills "will not be enough to solve all of Mayotte’s problems."
Mayotte is accustomed to struggles, and big promises from faraway Paris.
Mayotte’s regional council president Ben Issa Ousseni believes the proposed legislation "does not yet meet the aspirations of the Mahoran people.” He said he would continue to fight for more, including a long-promised runway extension at the airport of Pamandzi aimed at boosting tourism and economic development.
Macron said he was ready to discuss inequalities between Mayotte and the rest of France. Its minimum wage and pensions are lower than elsewhere, while the cost of living can be higher than in mainland France because of its dependence on imported goods and services.
Macron also reinforced promises for a plan to stem illegal immigration to Mayotte, called ″Oura wa chaba″ or Iron Wall in the Mahorais language, to more quickly prevent the arrival of migrants from the Comoros Islands, Madagascar and Tanzania fleeing poverty or conflict zones elsewhere in Africa.
Macron maintained support for a rule restricting foreigners who arrive in Mayotte from traveling elsewhere in France, citing Mayotte’s “deeply abnormal migration situation.”
The president traveled next to the French territory of Reunion, where he announced new tax breaks to boost the local economy.
Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.
Follow more AP coverage of Mayotte at https://apnews.com/hub/mayotte
A group of singers and dancers perform after French President Emmanuel Macron's visit Monday, April 21, 2025 in Tsingoni , Mayotte island, in the Indian Ocean French territory of Mayotte. (AP Photo/Alexis Duclos)
Angry residents argue after French President Emmanuel Macron' s visit Monday, April 21, 2025 in Mamoudzou, in the Indian Ocean French territory of Mayotte. (AP Photo/Alexis Duclos)
Debris caused by the Dec.2024 Chido cyclone are seen Sunday, April 20, 2025 on the eve of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit in Mamoudzou, in the Indian Ocean French territory of Mayotte. (AP Photo/Alexis Duclos)
U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran has proposed negotiations after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic as an ongoing crackdown on demonstrators has led to hundreds of deaths.
Trump said late Sunday that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports mount of increasing deaths and the government continues to arrest protesters.
“The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night.
Iran did not acknowledge Trump’s comments immediately. It has previously warned the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has accurately reported on past unrest in Iran, gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran cross checking information. It said at least 544 people have been killed so far, including 496 protesters and 48 people from the security forces. It said more than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests.
With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.
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A witness told the AP that the streets of Tehran empty at the sunset call to prayers each night.
Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”
Another text, addressed “Dear parents,” which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.
The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.
—- By Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Iran drew tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators to the streets Monday in a show of power after nationwide protests challenging the country’s theocracy.
Iranian state television showed images of demonstrators thronging Tehran toward Enghelab Square in the capital.
It called the demonstration an “Iranian uprising against American-Zionist terrorism,” without addressing the underlying anger in the country over the nation’s ailing economy. That sparked the protests over two weeks ago.
State television aired images of such demonstrations around the country, trying to signal it had overcome the protests, as claimed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier in the day.
China says it opposes the use of force in international relations and expressed hope the Iranian government and people are “able to overcome the current difficulties and maintain national stability.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Monday that Beijing “always opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs, maintains that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law, and opposes the use or threat of use of force in international relations.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned “in the strongest terms the violence that the leadership in Iran is directing against its own people.”
He said it was a sign of weakness rather than strength, adding that “this violence must end.”
Merz said during a visit to India that the demonstrators deserve “the greatest respect” for the courage with which “they are resisting the disproportional, brutal violence of Iranian security forces.”
He said: “I call on the Iranian leadership to protect its population rather than threatening it.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday suggested that a channel remained open with the United States.
Esmail Baghaei made the comment during a news conference in Tehran.
“It is open and whenever needed, through that channel, the necessary messages are exchanged,” he said.
However, Baghaei said such talks needed to be “based on the acceptance of mutual interests and concerns, not a negotiation that is one-sided, unilateral and based on dictation.”
The semiofficial Fars news agency in Iran, which is close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, on Monday began calling out Iranian celebrities and leaders on social media who have expressed support for the protests over the past two weeks, especially before the internet was shut down.
The threat comes as writers and other cultural leaders were targeted even before protests. The news agency highlighted specific celebrities who posted in solidarity with the protesters and scolded them for not condemning vandalism and destruction to public property or the deaths of security forces killed during clashes. The news agency accused those celebrities and leaders of inciting riots by expressing their support.
Canada said it “stands with the brave people of Iran” in a statement on social media that strongly condemned the killing of protesters during widespread protests that have rocked the country over the past two weeks.
“The Iranian regime must halt its horrific repression and intimidation and respect the human rights of its citizens,” Canada’s government said on Monday.
Iran’s foreign minister claimed Monday that “the situation has come under total control” after a bloody crackdown on nationwide protests in the country.
Abbas Araghchi offered no evidence for his claim.
Araghchi spoke to foreign diplomats in Tehran. The Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite news network, which has been allowed to work despite the internet being cut off in the country, carried his remarks.
Iran’s foreign minister alleged Monday that nationwide protests in his nation “turned violent and bloody to give an excuse” for U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene.
Abbas Araghchi offered no evidence for his claim, which comes after over 500 have been reported killed by activists -- the vast majority coming from demonstrators.
Araghchi spoke to foreign diplomats in Tehran. The Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite news network, which has been allowed to work despite the internet being cut off in the country, carried his remarks.
Iran has summoned the British ambassador over protesters twice taking down the Iranian flag at their embassy in London.
Iranian state television also said Monday that it complained about “certain terrorist organization that, under the guise of media, spread lies and promote violence and terrorism.” The United Kingdom is home to offices of the BBC’s Persian service and Iran International, both which long have been targeted by Iran.
A huge crowd of demonstrators, some waving the flag of Iran, gathered Sunday afternoon along Veteran Avenue in LA’s Westwood neighborhood to protest against the Iranian government. Police eventually issued a dispersal order, and by early evening only about a hundred protesters were still in the area, ABC7 reported.
Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran.
Los Angeles police responded Sunday after somebody drove a U-Haul box truck down a street crowded with the the demonstrators, causing protesters to scramble out of the way and then run after the speeding vehicle to try to attack the driver. A police statement said one person was hit by the truck but nobody was seriously hurt.
The driver, a man who was not identified, was detained “pending further investigation,” police said in a statement Sunday evening.
Shiite Muslims hold placards and chant slogans during a protest against the U.S. and show solidarity with Iran in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
Activists carrying a photograph of Reza Pahlavi take part in a rally supporting protesters in Iran at Lafayette Park, across from the White House, in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Activists take part in a rally supporting protesters in Iran at Lafayette Park, across from the White House in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Protesters burn the Iranian national flag during a rally in support of the nationwide mass demonstrations in Iran against the government in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
