20°12′S57°30′E / 20.2°S 57.5°E /-20.2; 57.5
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TheOuter Islands of Mauritius (French:Îles éparses de Maurice) is the first-leveladministrative divisions of the country and consists of the islands ofMauritius and several outlying islands.[1] The Outer Islands of Mauritius are managedunder the aegis of the Prime Minister of Mauritius through Prime Minister's Office[2] by the Outer Islands Development Corporation which is the authority empowered under the law to manage the Outer Islands of Mauritius. The Prime Minister is also Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity.[3] TheConstitution of Mauritius states that the Republic of Mauritius includes the islands ofAgaléga, Mauritius,Rodrigues,Saint Brandon (Cargados Carajos shoals),Tromelin Island, and theChagos Archipelago (includingDiego Garcia and other associated islands).[4] TheChagos Archipelago are set to be returned to Mauritius in 2025, after a longdispute with the United Kingdom. Additionally,France shares a sovereignty claim overTromelin Island, an uninhabited island betweenMadagascar and Mauritius's main island.[5]
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The total area of the Republic of Mauritius is 2,040 km2 (excluding theChagos Archipelago), making it the169th largest country in the world by area. Mauritian territory also incorporates the island ofRodrigues, which is situated some 560 kilometers to the east and is 104 km2 in area.[1] Rodrigues used to be the country's tenthdistrict, before it gained autonomous status in 2002. The two islands ofAgaléga have a total land area of 2,600 hectares and are situated some 1,000 km to the north of Mauritius.Saint Brandon (Cargados Carajos) is situated some 430 km to the north-east of Mauritius; it is an archipelago comprising a number of sand banks, shoals, and islets.[1] Just off the Mauritian coast lie some 49 tiny uninhabited islands and islets (see:Islets of Mauritius), some of which are used as natural reserves for the protection of endangered species.
The country'sexclusive economic zone (EEZ) covers about 2.3 million km2 of the Indian Ocean, including approximately 400,000 km2 jointlymanaged withSeychelles.[6] Fourfishing banks fall within its EEZ limits:Hawkins Bank,Nazareth Bank, theSaya de Malha Bank, and theSoudan Banks (including East Soudan Bank). In 2011, theUnited Nations endorsed the joint submission of Mauritius and Seychelles to extend theircontinental shelf of 396,000 km2 in theMascarene region which gives the two countries sovereign right to jointly manage and exploit theseabed andsubsoil of the joint area.[7][8][9]
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