Students follow movement remotely

Three high school students from Mamoudzou in Mayotte are following the ongoing high school movement in Metropolitan France remotely as their school holidays near their end. They express a mix of pride at the expansion of the movement, frustration over the lack of responses to their demands, and a sense of being overlooked in national discussions.

Mobilization grows in Metropolitan France

Twelve days after the start of school holidays in Mayotte, the high school movement has expanded into a broader mobilization in Metropolitan France, where hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated on 17 October. The demonstrations included clashes with law enforcement, looting, and vandalism, reflecting the intensity of the movement.

National platform for student demands

The Mayotte rectorate had previously announced the creation of a national platform to collect the demands of high school students, calling it "a first step" toward identifying short- and long-term responses. Student representatives were also informed of a national consultation on the Agora platform, which remained open until 23 October 2026.

Local mobilization continues

Despite these initiatives, the mobilization continued in Mayotte. On 9 October, between 100 and 200 students from the Younoussa-Bamana high school gathered in front of the school, holding a banner reading "The Golden Youth against the State." Although the intensity of the mobilization had decreased, the speeches delivered showed a sense of continued engagement.

Student perspectives on the movement

Five days before the start of the school year, Zamila, 17, a spokesperson for the high school mobilization, and her peers Chafika and Shayna, both 16 and in their final year of high school, shared their views on the movement’s evolution. They discussed its future in Mayotte and expressed a range of emotions, from pride to frustration and hope.

Mixed feelings on movement's future

Zamila expressed pride in the movement’s expansion but noted disappointment with the lack of action in Mayotte. She mentioned following the demonstrations on TikTok and suggested the movement might resume if the administration fails to provide concrete responses. Chafika felt motivated by the continued movement but frustrated by the lack of attention to Mayotte’s specific issues.

Challenges in visibility and momentum

During the holidays, the students continued to exchange ideas and organize, though a planned demonstration on 17 October did not materialize due to low participation. They discussed the challenges of maintaining momentum and the difficulties in reaching national media for greater visibility.

Views on violence during demonstrations

Zamila and Chafika acknowledged the violence during the demonstrations in Metropolitan France, though they did not excuse it. They believed it was necessary to be heard. Shayna noted that the violence was a response to frustration and police intervention but emphasized that it should remain within reasonable limits.

Criticism of Macron’s response

Emmanuel Macron’s response to the demonstrations was criticized by the students, who felt their demands were not addressed. They expressed disappointment with his lack of concrete solutions and his focus on the damage rather than the underlying issues.

Focus on Mayotte’s specific challenges

The students highlighted the absence of Mayotte and other overseas territories from national debates, emphasizing the specific challenges they face, such as access to water, the cost of living, healthcare, and insecurity. They expressed frustration and anger over the lack of visibility and the perception that their struggles are not considered significant.

Uncertain future for the movement

As the holidays come to an end, Zamila indicated that the movement might resume at the start of the school year if the administration does not act on the students' demands. Despite the challenges they face, the students remain determined.