The Flag of Mayotte
The flag of Mayotte represents the French overseas department located in the Indian Ocean. It features the French Tricolore, reflecting Mayotte's status as a department of France. The flag is vertically striped in blue, white, and red, identical to the national flag of France. Given Mayotte's unique status and local identity, there are also unofficial flags used locally, but the official flag aligns with that of France's due to its political status.
History of The Flag of Mayotte
Mayotte, historically influenced by various colonial powers, became a French territory in the 19th century. The official flag, the French Tricolore, has been in use since Mayotte became an overseas department of France in 2011, following a referendum in 2009 where the majority of Mahorais (inhabitants of Mayotte) voted to become an integral part of France rather than gain independence. Before this official designation, Mayotte did not have an official flag of its own but used various unofficial flags reflecting its cultural and political aspirations. The adoption of the French flag underscores Mayotte's integral connection to France, both administratively and symbolically, and represents its status as the outermost region of the European Union in the Indian Ocean.