Reclaiming Justice: Madagascar’s Rightful Fight for the Scattered Islands

More than sixty years after gaining independence, Madagascar continues to await France’s full completion of the decolonization process. At the heart of this unresolved legacy lies the Îles Éparses – the Scattered Islands – a cluster of small, uninhabited territories in the Indian Ocean that remain under French control, despite historically belonging to Madagascar. This lingering colonial footprint is not only a matter of disputed borders but about dignity, sovereignty and justice.

France’s continued grip on these islands defies international norms and echoes a darker past – one that includes the brutal killing of a Malagasy king, the theft of human remains, and the economic exploitation of an entire people. While President Emmanuel Macron has expressed a commitment to addressing France’s colonial past, his recent actions have prompted questions about the depth and sincerity of this effort.

During a visit to Madagascar, Macron pledged to return the skull of the assassinated king and some looted artifacts. But alongside these symbolic gestures came massive French investment deals – a multi-million-euro dam project and lucrative partnerships in rare earth minerals. This begs the question: Is France truly seeking to make amends, or is it simply rebranding its influence under the guise of reconciliation?

France is scrambling to regain influence in Africa as its long-standing grip weakens. Once resource-rich allies like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea—whose wealth fueled France’s economy for years—have severed ties and renounced their former colonial ruler. This growing wave of rejection signals a shift across the continent, forcing France to seek new alliances and investments amid declining credibility, economic uncertainty and diminishing power in its former spheres of control.

The Scattered Islands are not just symbolic. They give France control over 640,000 km² of maritime territory, expanding its strategic and military reach across the Indian Ocean. France’s “triangle of power” – built on Réunion, Mayotte, and these islands – allows it to project power in a region increasingly eyed by global powers like China and Russia. Despite their ecological designations, these islands are far from neutral spaces – they are geopolitical pawns in France’s larger agenda.

Yet for Madagascar, this is about more than strategy. It is about reclaiming what was wrongfully taken. Historically, these islands were administered as part of Madagascar until they were quietly separated just before independence in 1960 – a move denounced by two United Nations resolutions in 1979 and 1980, which called for their immediate return.

France’s refusal to honor these resolutions is a blatant dismissal of the very principles of decolonization it claims to uphold. And while the islands remain largely undeveloped and militarized, their return would be a monumental step in restoring Malagasy sovereignty and healing the wounds of colonialism.

Critics may contend that Madagascar lacks the resources to effectively manage the Scattered Islands. However, this perspective overlooks the core issue which is not about its administrative capacity, but about rightful ownership. The fundamental question is not Madagascar’s current capacity to govern the islands, but whether it has the rightful claim to do so—grounded in undeniable historical connections and strong legal justification.

The return of looted remains and artifacts must not be a distraction from the more pressing issue which is land and maritime sovereignty. France must go beyond token gestures and confront the uncomfortable truth; that its colonial past is not over until it fully relinquishes control of territories it has no rightful claim to.

As a bilateral commission prepares to meet in Paris in June, the world must stand in solidarity with Madagascar’s call for justice. Anything less would be a betrayal of the global commitment to decolonization and self-determination.