Abolition of Slavery in Mayotte

Why 27 April matters in Mayotte

French law makes the commemoration of slavery’s abolition a public holiday in Mayotte, and the Labour Code fixes it on 27 April. The annual date is set by law; it does not move to the nearest weekday when it falls on a weekend.[1][2]

Mayotte’s history gives the date a particular context. A royal ordinance of 9 December 1846 officially abolished slavery there, before the decree of 27 April 1848 addressed abolition across French colonies and possessions, including Mayotte. The earlier measure also tied emancipation to compensation for slaveholders and a system of contracted labor, so the transition was more complicated than a simple end to forced labor.[3][4]

Commemoration and remembrance

Mayotte’s commemoration is connected to the 1848 decree, even though the island’s own abolition had taken place earlier. The national commemorations law also names Mayotte among the territories with a local public holiday for abolition.[1][2][4]

An example of local remembrance is educational work developed with the Departmental Archives of Mayotte. A school project for fourth-year pupils examined the slave trade in the region, slavery in Mayotte and the archipelago, and abolition through historical documents and oral testimony.[5]

27 April is a day of remembrance and learning about Mayotte’s history.[4][5]

Work, closures and travel

Being a public holiday does not automatically mean every employee has the day off. For private-sector workers, whether a holiday other than 1 May is not worked depends on the applicable collective agreement or, if there is none, the employer. If 27 April falls on a usual rest day, private-sector rules do not provide an automatic replacement day, though an agreement may offer better terms.[6]

Check directly with the office, business or transport provider you plan to use, especially if travelling around the island.[1][2][6]