Agalega Islands

News: Agalega Island is becoming a key part of India’s strategy to strengthen its naval presence and monitor important trade routes in the Indian Ocean.

About Agalega Islands

• The Agalega Islands are two islands situated in the Indian Ocean.
• It is surrounded by the Seychelles to the north, the Maldives, the US base Diego Garcia and Chagos Island to the east, and Madagascar, the Mozambique Channel, and the entire eastern coast of Africa to the west.
• It lies approximately 1,050 km north of Mauritius and about 3,400 km southwest of India’s southern tip.
• Composition: The archipelago comprises two low-lying coral islands –
  • North Island, the main inhabited island, and South Island.
  •  North Agalega houses the capital Vingt Cinq and the island’s airstrip and Ste Rita is the only village in South Agalega.
• The two islands are connected by a natural sandbank that can be crossed on foot during low tide.
• Total area: It has a total area of 26 sq. km. 
• Administration: Administratively, it is part of the territories and dependencies of the Republic of Mauritius.
• Population: The islands are home to a small population of around 300 residents, whose daily lives revolve around fishing, coconut cultivation.
• Flora and fauna: The endemic plant is the coconut and Agalega Island Day Gecko is a native species.
• Strategic significance for India:  This chain of islands is emerging as one of India’s biggest strategic projects in the Indian Ocean region.
  •  The infrastructure developed there over the past few years is giving India a stronger military and maritime position across a large stretch of the ocean.
  • Strategically, it also gives India direct access to monitoring activity around the Mozambique Channel, an important sea route through which a large volume of trade moves between Asia, Europe and Africa.

About Mozambique Channel The Mozambique Channel is a part of the Indian Ocean in the west. It lies between Mozambique and Madagascar. The channel separates Madagascar from mainland Africa. It shares land borders with five countries, namely Tanzania, Madagascar, Comoros, Mozambique, and France (through its territories).  Length: It is about 1,600 km long. It is an important sea route through which a large volume of trade moves between Asia, Europe and Africa.