Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Mayotte

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Mayotte.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: NA
Administrative Divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Legal System: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch: chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON of France (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Thierry SUQUET (since 2023) head of government: President of the Departmental Council Ben ISSA OUSSENI (since 2021) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the Departmental Council elected by the members of the Departmental Council; Mayotte became France's 101st department in 2011, replacing the former General Council structure with a Departmental Council
Legislative Branch: Mayotte has a unicameral Departmental Council (Conseil Départemental) with 26 seats. Members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, with half the seats renewed every three years. Following Mayotte's transformation from a French Overseas Collectivity into a full French Overseas Department in 2011, the former General Council was reorganized and expanded into the current Departmental Council. Elections are held on a cantonal basis using a two-round majority system. Elections: last held on 20 and 27 March 2021 (next to be held in 2027). Election results: seats by party — Divers Droite (DVD) and allies 13, Divers Gauche (DVG) and allies 8, other 5. The council is currently chaired by Ben Issa Ousseni of the ruling majority. Note: Mayotte elects two members to the French Senate; elections last held in September 2023 (next to be held in 2026); results — seats held by centrist and right-leaning independents affiliated with national French parties. Mayotte also elects two members to the French National Assembly; elections last held in June 2022 (next to be held in 2027); results — seats won by candidates aligned with the national majority coalition.
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political Parties: Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or RPR (UMP) [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or FRAP [leader NA]; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti Socialiste) [Ibrahim ABUBACAR]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE]
Head of State: President Emmanuel MACRON of France, represented by Prefect Thierry SUQUET
Head of Government: President of the Departmental Council Ben ISSA OUSSENI
Elections: last held on 20 and 27 March 2021 (next to be held in 2027).
Election Results: seats by party — Divers Droite (DVD) and allies 13, Divers Gauche (DVG) and allies 8, other 5. The council is currently chaired by Ben Issa Ousseni of the ruling majority. Note: Mayotte elects two members to the French Senate; elections last held in September 2023 (next to be held in 2026); results — seats held by centrist and right-leaning independents affiliated with national French parties. Mayotte also elects two members to the French National Assembly; elections last held in June 2022 (next to be held in 2027); results — seats won by candidates aligned with the national majority coalition.
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)
National Holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
International Organization Participation: none
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: none (territorial collectivity of France)
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Mamoutzou

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: the flag of France is used

National Anthem

Anthem History: This island is a territory of France

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