Mamoudzou

Mamoudzou (French pronunciation: ​[mamudzu]; Shimaore Comorian: Momoju[2]) is the capital of the French overseas region and department of Mayotte, in the Indian Ocean. Mamoudzou is the most populated commune (municipality) of Mayotte. It is located on Grande-Terre (or Mahoré), the main island of Mayotte.

Mamoudzou
Prefecture and commune
Mamoudzou skyline
Location of the commune (in red) within Mayotte
Location of Mamoudzou
Coordinates: 12°46′50″S 45°13′40″E
CountryFrance
Overseas region and departmentMayotte
Canton3 cantons
IntercommunalityDembeni-Mamoudzou
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Ambdilwahedou Soumaila
Area
41.94 km2 (16.19 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
71,437
 • Density1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+03:00
INSEE/Postal code
97611 /97600
Elevation0–572 m (0–1,877 ft)

History

The former capital of Mayotte was Dzaoudzi, on the small island of Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), but Mamoudzou was chosen as the capital in 1977. In the 1985 census, 12,026 people were recorded in the main town.[3]

There have been environment concerns about marine pollution in the area; "important degradation in the quality of the coastal waters" between 1977 and 2007 has been reported in the Coral Reef Lagoon in the Mamoudzou–Dzaoudzi strait, and in the Mamoudzou–Majikavo conurbation.[4]

Administration
Mamoudzou City Hall

The commune is composed of 6 villages in addition to its central habitation, also called Mamoudzou. These are: Kawéni, Mtsapéré, Passamainti, Vahibé, Tsoundzou I and Tsoundzou II.

The commune is also subdivided into 3 cantons: Mamoudzou-1, Mamoudzou-2 and Mamoudzou-3.

The government owns the radio station in Mamoudzou and broadcasts in French and Mahorian. The government departments, including Agriculture and Forestry, Education, Health and Social Security, Public Works, Work, Employment and training and Youth and Sports are situated on the Rue Mariaze in the town.[5] The government departments have been based in the town since before it became the capital, from World War II. France Télécom operates in the town.[6]

Demographics
Population history
196619781985199119972002200720122017
4,5567,79812,02620,30732,77445,48553,02257,28171,437
Official census figures.
Village Populations
Village19972002
Kavani3 9485 488
Kaweni6 2069 604
Mamoudzou5 6666 533
Mtsapéré6 97910 495
Passamainty5 1736 008
Tsountsou 12 0933 058
Tsountsou 25741 063
Vahibé2 1353 236
Statistics accurate as of 1997

Economy
Place du Marché

Mamoudzou contains a bank and shopping centre. The economic centre of the town is the Place du Marche, which contains the bank, Air France and Ewa Air offices, and the tourist office.[7] The headquarters of the magazine Jana na Leo, "primarily concerned with articles on social life of the island of Mahore", is published in Mamoudzou.[8] Restaurants of note in Mamoudzou include the Les Terrasses, Hotel Restaurant Isijiva, Le Barfly and Mamoudzou La Kaz.[9]

A ferry service is provided for tourists to the island of Petite Terre.[10]

References
  1. Populations légales de Mayotte en 2017, INSEE
  2. Allibert, Claude (2002). Regards sur Mayotte (in French). INALCO. p. 305. ISBN 978-2-85831-135-4.
  3. Wright, John (23 May 2006). New York Times Almanac 2002. Routledge. p. 1589. ISBN 978-1-135-45586-6.
  4. Ceccaldi, Hubert J. (12 January 2011). Global Change: Mankind-Marine Environment Interactions: Proceedings of the 13th French-Japanese Oceanography Symposium. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 407. ISBN 978-90-481-8630-3.
  5. Africa South of the Sahara 2003. Psychology Press. 31 October 2002. p. 243. ISBN 978-1-85743-131-5.
  6. Routledge (9 November 2007). Africa South of the Sahara 2008. Taylor & Francis.
  7. Hodd, Michael (1994). East African Handbook. Trade & Travel Publications. p. 706. ISBN 978-0-8442-8983-0.
  8. Ottenheimer, Martin (1 January 1994). Historical Dictionary of the Comoro Islands. Scarecrow Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-8108-2819-3.
  9. Nourault, Gilles; Perrin, François (2003). Mayotte: guide touristique et culturel (in French). Orphie. p. 315.
  10. Madagascar & Comoros. Lonely Planet. 2008. p. 257. ISBN 978-1-74104-608-3.
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