The Scattered Islands, located in the Mozambique Channel for four of them – Les Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Bassas da India and Europa – and to the east of Madagascar for the fifth – Tromelin, have been, since the independence of Madagascar – proclaimed in 1960 – administered by France.
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A French possession since the 18th centurye century
It was France which, historically, took possession of these islets in the 18th century.e century. While the islands of the Mozambique Channel (Les Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Bassas da India, Europa) were placed under the authority of the colony of Madagascar, the island of Tromelin was placed directly under the administration of Bourbon Island (current Reunion Island). This strip of island land does not exceed 43km2 but covers a maritime area of 640,400km2. IIntegrated within the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) since 2005, they come under the authority of the prefect, senior administrator of the TAAF.
Apart from scientists and soldiers, the Scattered Islands, isolated and difficult to access, remain essentially uninhabited. French sovereignty is mainly ensured by the land, air and maritime military presence of the French armed forces in the southern zone of the Indian Ocean (FAZSOI).
A string of French islands contested by the Malagasy, Comorians and Mauritians
The Scattered Islands are claimed by both Madagascar, the Comoros and Mauritius. While France defends its original sovereignty over these islands and the fact that no human presence was attested when it took possession, the Malagasy authorities have been promoting the principle of contiguity since the 1960s, so that the islands are recognized as natural dependencies. In 1978, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) invited France to return the Scattered Islands to Madagascar – with the exception of Tromelin Island, located in the Indian Ocean. In 1979 and 1980, the UN adopted two resolutions (resolution 34/91 of December 12, 1979 and resolution 35/123 of December 11, 1980) which urge France to begin negotiations with Madagascar. As for Mauritius, it has claimed Tromelin since 1976. The Comoros, beyond Mayotte, have been interested in Les Glorieuses since 1980.
A strategic position reinforced by numerous hydrocarbon and fishery resources
Attenuated for several years, these demands have recently been reawakened, notably for economic reasons. And for good reason: the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), granted by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (article 11 of the Montego Bay Convention of December 10, 1982), offer the prospect of significant hydrocarbon (gas, minerals, oil) and fishery resources in the Mozambique Channel.
Added to this promise of hydrocarbons is the geostrategic interest of the location of the Scattered Islands given the significant maritime traffic in the area: 30% of global oil production passes through this region.
Thanks to these five islands scattered on either side of the Mozambique Channel and the Indian Ocean, and thanks to the adjoining EEZs, France controls more than half of this strategic maritime zone, a major crossroads for international maritime transport, and even more so since the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. With Réunion, the islands Eparses serve as a springboard for the projection of French power in the Indian Ocean.
