On Monday, 8 June 2026, World Oceans Day, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Paris between Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), the French Government, and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for the re-construction of Mayotte in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido in December 2024.
Located between Mozambique and Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, Mayotte is surrounded by a vast coral reef system and a lagoon covering about 1,500 km², making it a major destination for diving, snorkeling, and marine wildlife viewing. Mayotte has also been home to a Jamat, many originating from neighbouring Madagascar, for decades.
The MoU was signed by Naïma Moutchou, Minister for Overseas Territories; Christophe Lecourtier, Chief Executive Officer of AFD; Shamir Samdjee, Official Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to the French Republic; and Dr Matt Reed, Global Director of Institutional Partnerships at AKF, in the presence of Prince Hussain Aga Khan and Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan. The MoU covers areas such as environmental protection, agriculture, water and waste management, with a particular focus on restoring biodiversity in mangrove ecosystems and more broadly on supporting the agroecological transition in Mayotte. The meeting built on the discussions between Mawlana Hazar Imam and French President Emmanuel Macron on 11 July 2025.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Moutchou said, “The expression of solidarity shown by your late father, Aga Khan IV in the days following Cyclone Chido touched us deeply. We were very moved by this gesture, which demonstrates the bonds of trust that unite the Ismaili Imamat and France.”
In his remarks, Prince Aly Muhammad said: “This work builds on many decades of AKDN engagement in coastal regions, where environmental restoration, livelihoods, enterprise development, and community resilience must be understood—and practiced—together. The programme being prepared jointly by our teams focuses on the restoration of coastal zones both on oceans and on lands, and additional preservation work of the Mayotte Marine Natural Park. Our shared conviction is that environmental recovery is not separate from human recovery. Healthy ecosystems protect communities, sustain livelihoods, and create the conditions for long-term resilience.”
Additional information and photos at The.Ismaili and Aga Khan Development Network
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