Mauritius Strengthens Its Claim to a 183,000 km² Continental Shelf Expansion Around Rodrigues

Securing Strategic Control Over Critical Marine Resources in the Indian Ocean

In a move with far-reaching geopolitical and economic implications, Mauritius has officially reinforced its request to the United Nations to extend its continental shelf by 183,000 km² around Rodrigues Island. The request, submitted to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), represents a strategic step in the island nation’s broader effort to secure maritime sovereignty.

Beyond the legal dimension, this initiative is aimed at protecting potential access to vast deposits of polymetallic nodules containing cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements—resources considered critical to the global race for energy transition and technological dominance.

Strategic Foresight Amid the Global Rush for Seabed Minerals

With growing global demand for metals essential to batteries, semiconductors, and green technology, Mauritius is placing itself ahead of the curve. By reinforcing its sovereign rights over a vast undersea area around Rodrigues, Port Louis seeks to pre-empt future exploration and exploitation of these resources while solidifying its role in the evolving maritime architecture of the Indian Ocean.

According to Mauritian authorities, the request is backed by comprehensive geological and oceanographic surveys demonstrating the natural extension of the continental shelf beyond the current 200 nautical miles. This type of extension is provided for under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) but remains politically sensitive in high-value strategic areas.

Coveted Resources, Sovereignty at Stake

The area in question is known to contain high concentrations of polymetallic nodules—mineral formations resting on the ocean floor rich in cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earths. These elements are critical to producing electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and a wide range of military and aerospace technologies.

In this context, Mauritius aligns with a broader trend among small island states: turning their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) into geopolitical assets, capable of attracting investment, managing future resource competition, and reinforcing strategic autonomy.

Geopolitical Stakes in the Indian Ocean

Long viewed as peripheral, the Indian Ocean is rapidly emerging as a strategic hub in global power competition. With growing Chinese naval presence, renewed Indian engagement, Western military bases, and increased interest from African coastal states, control over seabed resources is taking on a security dimension.

Mauritius’ claim may pave the way for new regional cooperation frameworks, but it could also trigger potential disputes if rival interests emerge around seabed exploration and extraction rights.

A Strategic Move for Mauritius’ Energy and Geopolitical Future

African Security Analysis (ASA) considers this initiative as part of a long-term vision, combining the securitization of critical resources, assertion of maritime sovereignty, and strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean’s future power balance.

As global demand for strategic minerals continues to surge, Mauritius aims to move from being a small island nation to a central player in maritime governance and resource diplomacy.

ASA will continue monitoring the evolution of this dossier and stands ready to assist institutions, investors, and governments seeking to better understand the region’s emerging dynamics.

For both public and private stakeholders looking to anticipate shifts in the Indian Ocean’s strategic landscape, Mauritius is quickly becoming a key point of focus.