Arab League rejects ‘French occupation’ of Mayotte

Arab League leaders have rejected the 'French occupation' of the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte, according to a final statement from their annual summit which was made public on Tuesday.

Comoros President Ahmed Abdullah Sambi had urged fellow Arab League leaders at Monday’s summit in Doha to reject the vote by residents of Mayotte to become an integral part of France.

The Arab leaders announced their “rejection of the French occupation and demand that France continue dialogue with the Comoros government to reach a settlement that guarantees the return of the island of Mayotte under the sovereignty of Comoros,” said the summit’s final resolution.

Mayotte voted on Sunday to become an integral part of France, in a referendum which would put an end to local traditions like polygamy and curb the powers of Islamic courts.