Mayotte Island is responsible for more than 10,000 people dying trying to reach it

Christian Ally Moussa, 42, was born and raised on the island of Madagascar, but her father was a French citizen who resided on the island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Christian was already preparing for his lawsuit hearing, where he would obtain French citizenship. He spent years saving up to pay the fees, so he would finally be able to apply for the European passport, as it had always been his birthright.

As Moussa was born on the island of Madagascar, which is about 350 km away, he faced a difficulty in being recognized as a citizen of the European country.

With a few weeks to go before the citizenship process hearing, Christian was unexpectedly arrested by the French border police and ended up being deported to Madagascar. He had been living and also working informally for years in French territory. In a desperate attempt to be back in time for his hearing, Christian took a boat.

The Isle of Mayotte is the poorest in France, yet it is the richest compared to the neighboring islands of Madagascar and Comoros, which lie off the southeast coast of Africa. The island has 300,000 people, in addition to being world famous for its coral reefs and lagoon.

_{A photo from Christian’s family album (in a pink tank top) (Photo: Reproduction/BBC)}

Christian supported his wife and children in Madagascar.

A relative who did not have his identification revealed, spoke a little about Christian’s story.

“They (border police) broke in and wanted to take Christian away”says the family member. “He asked me to go get his shoes, but when I got back, they had already taken them away.”

Christian was located by his relative in the only detention center in the capital, the relative said that they spoke by phone, said that Christian was crying a lot and said that he did not want to return to Madagascar.

The relative also made contact with a lawyer, where he filed an emergency appeal to stop the deportation. Christian was supposed to appear before a judge at 11am the next day, but by then he was on a flight back to Madagascar, less than 48 hours after he was arrested.

Christian knew that while his wife and children were in Madagascar, he also knew that he would not be able to earn enough money to support them.

Christian’s relative did not know that he wanted to make the trip back to the island, he said that Christian had not said anything to him or to his friends, he only asked for money, said that he was sick and needed medicine since he did not there was drinking water in the village

“So when the authorities called me to say he had been found dead, I told them, ‘No, it’s not him. It can’t be him.’ They then sent pictures, and I recognized his face.”

Thirty-four people were found drowned off the coast of Madagascar on March 12. Christian was one of those people.

Featured Photo: Sceneries like this make Mayotte an island paradise, but appearances are deceiving (Photo: Reproduction/Getty Images/Via BBC)