**France Faces Pressure Over Disputed Indian Ocean Island**
In a recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful called on France to resolve a longstanding territorial dispute over Tromelin Island, an uninhabited landmass located in the Indian Ocean. Ramful asserted that Tromelin is an integral part of Mauritius and urged Paris to engage in constructive dialogue to settle the matter amicably.
Tromelin Island, which spans approximately 1 square kilometer, has been administered by France since 1954, when it established a meteorological station there. The island is situated within a larger exclusive economic zone that extends over 280,000 square kilometers, rich in valuable fishing resources. France claims sovereignty over Tromelin, a position that Mauritius disputes, citing historical agreements.
According to Mauritius, Tromelin was included among the dependencies ceded to Britain when the island nation was transferred to British control under the 1814 Treaty of Paris. Mauritius formally asserted its claim to the island in 1976, eight years after gaining independence from Britain. During his speech, Ramful emphasized that the resolution of the dispute should be pursued "in the spirit of friendship" between the two nations.
The issue of Tromelin Island is not isolated; it reflects broader tensions between France and its former colonies in Africa. In 2010, France and Mauritius signed an agreement aimed at jointly managing fishing, environmental protection, and research activities around Tromelin. However, this agreement did not address the question of sovereignty and remains unratified due to political opposition in France. The French Senate approved the deal in 2012, but the government withdrew it from a National Assembly debate in 2017.
In addition to its claims over Tromelin, Mauritius is also engaged in a territorial dispute with Britain regarding the Chagos Archipelago. The British government separated the islands from Mauritius in 1965, prior to the latter's independence. Ramful reiterated Mauritius's "non-negotiable" claim to Chagos during his UN address, highlighting a recent treaty signed with Britain in May 2025 as a potential pathway to resolving the dispute.
This treaty aims to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago back to Mauritius while allowing the UK to maintain its military base on Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease. The agreement followed a 2019 ruling by the International Court of Justice, which deemed Britain's separation of the islands from Mauritius unlawful. However, the treaty has yet to take effect, facing opposition from various quarters, including former US President Donald Trump, who criticized it as a "terrible deal." The British government has since put the agreement on hold, with Defense Secretary Wes Streeting indicating that it cannot proceed without support from the United States.
The situation surrounding Tromelin Island and the Chagos Archipelago highlights the complexities of post-colonial territorial disputes in the Indian Ocean region. As Mauritius continues to assert its claims, the international community watches closely to see how France and Britain will respond to the calls for resolution from their former colonies.