France-Madagascar Diplomatic Stalemate over Scattered Islands (Îles Éparses)

Situation Overview

The second session of the Franco-Malagasy Joint Commission addressing the longstanding territorial dispute over the Scattered Islands ("Îles Éparses") concluded on June 30, 2025, in Paris, without significant progress. Despite hopes that the meeting would yield concrete outcomes, the discussions reached another impasse, further straining diplomatic relations between France and Madagascar.

Historical Context

The territorial dispute dates to the 1960s, involving four small, uninhabited islands—Bassas da India, Europa, Juan de Nova, and Les Glorieuses—in the Mozambique Channel. These islands were administratively attached to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) by France. However, Madagascar has consistently claimed historical and territorial sovereignty over these islands, demanding their complete restitution.

Madagascar’s Claims and Demands

During the recent commission meeting, Madagascar reiterated explicit and detailed demands:

• Official recognition of Malagasy sovereignty over all the Scattered Islands.
• Immediate halt to France’s unilateral activities on the islands, particularly environmental and scientific research conducted without Madagascar’s consent.
• Financial compensation for economic losses incurred by Madagascar due to restricted access to marine resources and potential energy reserves around these islands.
• Unrestricted access for Malagasy fishermen to surrounding waters and active participation of Malagasy scientists in ongoing research programs conducted by France.

Madagascar views these demands as essential to restoring full economic, environmental, and scientific sovereignty in what it perceives as its rightful territorial waters.

France’s Position and Strategic Silence

Following the meeting, France refrained from issuing any official statement, highlighting the deep divergences that remain between the two nations. This silence suggests a continued preference by Paris for a joint management ("co-management") approach to the islands, firmly rejecting Madagascar's core demand for full sovereignty transfer.

This French stance has remained unchanged since the initial 2019 negotiations held in Antananarivo, where France consistently advocated for shared governance rather than full restitution—a position categorically rejected by Madagascar as perpetuating a colonial-era arrangement.

Next Steps: Madagascar’s International Legal Strategy

With diplomatic negotiations stalled again, Madagascar is now seriously considering pursuing international legal channels to resolve the dispute. Two potential avenues are currently being explored by Antananarivo:

• Referral to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), following the precedent set by Mauritius against the United Kingdom in the Chagos Archipelago case.
• Engagement with the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, to place international diplomatic pressure on France and highlight the colonial context of the dispute.

Initiating these proceedings would represent a major escalation, shifting the dispute from a bilateral to a multilateral issue of international significance.

Strategic Assessment

The persistent diplomatic deadlock underscores the limitations of bilateral diplomacy in resolving complex historical and colonial disputes. The possible shift towards international arbitration by Madagascar may significantly elevate the issue, potentially drawing wider international attention and scrutiny to French territorial policies in the region.

Moreover, an international court ruling or significant UN involvement could establish an important legal and diplomatic precedent for similar territorial disputes across the African continent.

Conclusion and Prospects

The second Franco-Malagasy Joint Commission session has reinforced, rather than reduced, the diplomatic divide. Madagascar appears poised to escalate the issue internationally, potentially altering the geopolitical landscape surrounding the Scattered Islands dispute. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Madagascar formally initiates international legal action or if diplomatic efforts resume in pursuit of a last-minute negotiated compromise.