(English) Scattered Islands Talks Begin

Mae’n ddrwg gen i, mae’r cofnod hwn dim ond ar gael mewn English.

Malagasy representatives are today (Monday 30 June 2025) in Paris to meet French representatives, and begin talks regarding the status of the Scattered Islands (Iles Eparses).

The five islets surround Madagascar, and were a part of the country during the French colonial period, 1897-1960.

But they were broken away in advance of Malagasy independence.

They are a total of 43km² in land area, and uninhabited. But they hold maritime, strategic and ecological importance, and their exclusive economic zone gives their owner control over 640,000km² of sea, which includes huge amounts of sea-life, as well as – possibly – natural gas reserves.

Since independence, Madagascar has claimed the islands should be part of its wider sovereign area, and in both 1979 and 1980, the UN General Assembly ruled that French ownership was illegal, and that the islands should be given to Madagascar.

It is the first time since 2019 that the islands have been directly discussed by the two countries, but agreement may not be easy: while the Malagasy government retains its original claim to sole ownership, the French hope the islands should be ‘jointly-managed’.

The Malagasy delegation (led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Rafaravavitafika Rasata, senator Lalatiana Henriette Rakotondrazafy, and the Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy Mahatante Tsimanaoraty Paubert) will also discuss economic cooperation, which Macron has previously described as ‘more important’, citing (accurately) the fact that ’80 per cent of the {Malagasy} population lives below the poverty line.’