Disputed with Madagascar, the Comoros, and Mauritius
TheScattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (French:Îles Éparses orÎles Éparses de l'océan Indien) consist of four smallcoral islands and anatoll, as well as areef in theIndian Ocean; they constitute the fifth district of theFrench Southern and Antarctic Lands,[1] though sovereignty over some or all of the islands is contested by theComoros,Madagascar, andMauritius. None of the islands have ever had a permanent population, though theFrench armed forces maintain small troop contingents on some of the islands.[2]
Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean around Madagascar, mainly in the Mozambique Channel, the scattered islands, "confetti of the French colonial empire," are of strategic importance due to the extent of their economic area of interest. France asserts its presence there by basing small detachments of military personnel.[3][4]
The islands have been classified asnature reserves. Except for Bassas da India, they all supportmeteorological stations: those on the Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova, and Europa Island are automated. The station on Tromelin Island, in particular, provides warning ofcyclones threatening Madagascar, Mauritius, orRéunion. Each of the islands, except Banc du Geyser and Bassas da India, has an airstrip of more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).
The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean are partially claimed by the Comoros, Madagascar, and Mauritius.[5] The Malagasy and Mauritian claims, however, are significantly later than their access to independence. However, the agreement reached in October 2024 on the restitution to Mauritius of the Chagos Islands by Great Britain, in the heart of the Indian Ocean, notably home to the American base of Diego Garcia, has relaunched the debate in Madagascar.[6]
Since January 3, 2005, the Scattered Islands have been administered on behalf of the French state by the senior administrator of theFrench Southern and Antarctic Lands, based inRéunion. The Scattered Islands had previously been under the administration of theprefect of Réunion since theindependence of Madagascar in 1960.[7] France maintains a military garrison of around 14 troops on each of the islands[citation needed] in theMozambique Channel that are claimed by Madagascar. The troops are supported by French naval vessels based in Réunion conducting patrol missions and re-supply operations about four times per year.[8] The Glorioso Islands are also claimed by the Comoros, while Mauritius claims Tromelin Island.[9]
France has anexclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles(370 km) around each of the small islands in the Scattered Islands, which together with the EEZ claims for the islands ofMayotte and Réunion totals more than one million square kilometres(400,000 sq mi) in the western Indian Ocean. There is considerable overlap of the EEZ with the neighbouring states.[10]
Mauritius,Madagascar, and theComoros dispute France's sovereignty over these islands. Mauritius claimsTromelin Island and states that the island, discovered by France in 1722, was not ceded by theTreaty of Paris in 1814. Madagascar claims sovereignty over theGlorioso Islands (includingBanc du Geyser), though the island group was never a part of theMalagasy Protectorate, having been a part of theColony of Mayotte and dependencies, then a part of theFrench Comoros that had become a separately administered colony from Madagascar in 1946. The Comoros also claims the Glorioso Islands (including Banc du Geyser), as a part of the disputedFrench region of Mayotte. Furthermore, Madagascar has also claimedBassas da India,Europa Island, andJuan de Nova Island since 1972,[11] and a 1979 United Nations resolution (without binding force) demanded the cession of these islands to Madagascar.[12][13]Seychelles claimed a part of the Scattered Islands too before the signing of theFrance–Seychelles Maritime Boundary Agreement.[citation needed] A negotiation session between France and Madagascar took place in November 2020.[14] In April 2025, France and Madagascar announced that they would meet in June 2025 to find a peaceful solution to the dispute.[15] President Emmanuel Macron favors a form of co-management with Madagascar, rather than restitution.[16] On June 20, 2025, Malagasy Foreign Minister Rasata Rafaravavitafika chaired a meeting of the scientific committee devoted to Madagascar's claim to the Scattered Islands. The objective of this meeting was to develop arguments for preserving Madagascar's sovereignty over the Scattered Islands, while moving forward in discussions with France.[17] On June 24, 2025, the Malagasy platform "Sehatry ny Raiamandreny" (Sera) affirmed the indefatigability of Madagascar's claim to the territories of the Scattered Islands.[18] The second commission, between France and Madagascar, will meet on June 30, 2025, for bilateral discussions on congestion, or the restitution of the Scattered Islands to Madagascar.[19] On June 26, 2025, France published the lists of negotiators at the meeting of June 30, 2025, between Madagascar and France.[20]
