Agaléga
Agaléga (French: îles Agaléga) is a dependency of Mauritius, as defined by the Constitution of Mauritius, which consists of two outer islands located in the Indian Ocean, about 1,050 km (650 mi) north of Mauritius Island.
Location of the Agalega Islands in the Indian Ocean. | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 10°24′54″S 56°38′06″E |
| Total islands | 2 |
| Area | 24 km2 (9.3 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Mauritius | |
| Dependency | Agaléga |
| Largest settlement | Vingt-Cinq |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 330 (2022) |
| Ethnic groups | Creole |
Similarly to other Mauritian islands such as St. Brandon, Agaléga is run directly by the Prime Minister of Mauritius through the Prime Minister's Office to the Outer Island Development Corporation (OIDC). The population of the islands rose from 289 in 2011 to 330 in 2022.
The islands have a total area of 2,600 ha (6,400 acres). The North island is 12.5 km (7.8 mi) long and 1.5 km (0.9 mi) wide, while the South island is 7 km (4.3 mi) long and 4.5 km (2.8 mi) wide. The North Island is home to the islands' airstrip and the capital Vingt-Cinq. The islands are known for their production of coconuts, their main industry and, also, for the Agalega day gecko.
A 2015 memorandum of understanding on India–Mauritius military cooperation envisaged developing the Agaléga islands for an Indian military base. Local residents vocally opposed construction of the base as being a threat to local employment, self-determination, creole language (Agalega creole) and culture and Mauritian sovereignty. These recent infrastructural development by India, for civil and military use, have significantly transformed the islands' landscape.