The Departmental Collectivity of Mayotte is situated in the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. It is an overseas collectivity of France, comprising the largest island Grande-Terre and smaller island Petite-Terre and several other islets. Mayotte is located between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique. The territory is claimed by Comoros. Mamoudzou is the capital of Mayotte.
HISTORY:- Maore sultanate was flourished in the island around 1500. In 1503, Portuguese explorers arrived in the island. The island came under the control of Madagascar in 1832, sultanate of Mwali in 1833, Ndzuwani sultanate in 1835 and a local sultan in 1836. In 1843, Mayotte became a French colony. While the other Comoran islands declared independence from France in 1975, Mayotte preferred to remain a French dependency.
GEOGRAPHY:- Mayotte is located at 12 50 S, 45 10 E in Southern Indian Ocean. The island occupies total 374 sq km area in the Mozambique Channel. The coastline is 185.2 km long along with the Mozambique Channel. The lowest point is Indian Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Benara (660 m). Mayotte is generally formed of undulating land, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks.
CLIMATE:- The climate of Mayotte is mostly tropical and marine. The rainy season (November to May) is hot, humid, while the dry season is cooler (May to November).
GOVERNMENT:- Mayotte is a departmental collectivity of France. The French constitution is considered as the formal constitution of Mayotte. The legal system is designed on the French model. The overseas collectivity of France can send one deputy to the French National Assembly and two senators to the French Senate. The three major branches of the government are:
Executive branch comprises the President of France (chief of state), and the President of the General Council (head of government). The President of France is represented by the Prefect, who is appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior. The President of the General Council is elected by the members of the General Council on a 6-year term.
Legislative branch comprises the unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats).
Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court.
Democratic Front, Mahoran Popular Movement, Federation of Mahorans, Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy, Movement for Department Status Mayotte are the major political parties of Mayotte. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.
President of France Nicolas Sarkozy
President of the General Council Ahmed Attoumani Douchina
Prefect Philippe Boisadam
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Mayotte is divided into 17 communes:
Dzaoudzi
Pamandzi
Mamoudzou
Dembeni
Bandrele
Kani-Kéli
Bouéni
Chirongui
Sada
Ouangani
Chiconi
Tsingoni
M'Tsangamouji
Acoua
Mtsamboro
Bandraboua
Koungou.
ECONOMY:- The economy of the overseas territorial collectivity is mostly based on agriculture.
GDP/PPP (2003 est.): $466.8 million; per capita $2,600.
Real growth rate: n.a.
Inflation: n.a.
Unemployment: 38% (1999).
Arable land: n.a.
Agriculture: Vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra.
Budget:
Revenues: $420 million
Expenditures: $394 million (2005)
Debt - external: $NA
Labor force: 48,800 (2000).
Industries: Newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction.
Natural resources: negl.
Exports: $3.44 million (f.o.b., 1997): ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon.
Imports: $141.3 million (f.o.b., 1997): food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals.
Major trading partners: France, Comoros, Réunion, Africa, Southeast Asia (2004).
Currency: euro (EUR)
LANGUAGE:- Mahorian (a Swahili dialect) is widely spoken in Mayotte while French is the official language, spoken by 35% of the total population.
CITIES:- The capital and the largest city of Mayotte is Mamoudzou.
POPULATION:- The approximate population of Mayotte is 208,807 with an average growth rate of 3.6%.
Density per sq mi: 1,438
Literacy rate: NA
RACE:- NA
RELIGION:-
Muslim 97%
Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 39.79 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 7.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 57.88 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.54 years
Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: 0 km.
Highways: total: 93 km; paved: 72 km; unpaved: 21 km.
Ports and harbors: Dzaoudzi.
Airports: 1 (2004 est.).
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