France warns DR Congo over migrant flows to Mayotte

France has threatened the Democratic Republic of Congo with reduced development aid over rising migrant flows to Mayotte, where Congolese nationals now form the largest asylum-seeking group. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu raised the issue during his August 26 visit. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez urged Congolese authorities to better implement a 2021 readmission agreement for undocumented nationals. Lecornu noted migration has shifted from Comoros to include Great Lakes region countries due to wars and climate events. The trend began years ago, with a 2021 diplomatic report identifying a shift from Madagascar toward transit routes via Tanzania to Mayotte. The proposed "bonus-malus system" would link aid to cooperation on migration.