Deciding the next steps in negotiations

According to French Ambassador Arnaud Guillois, discussions regarding the Îles Éparses between France and Madagascar are still ongoing within the joint commission.

Ambassador Arnaud Guillois provided this update when questioned about the status of the Îles Éparses during the 70th-anniversary celebration of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, held at the Japanese Embassy residence in Ivandry.

Despite a silence lasting over a year and a half, Ambassador Guillois confirmed that talks surrounding the return of the islands to Madagascar have not been abandoned. He explained that the objective of the joint commission is to convene, although there is currently no set timeline for the next meeting. It’s worth noting that after the indefinite postponement of the Paris meeting in 2022, negotiations have remained stalled.

Lala Monja Sahivelo, Madagascar’s Minister of Armed Forces, echoed the ambassador’s sentiments. « As stated by the President of the Republic, the negotiations are ongoing », he said, while also expressing optimism about the outcome. With the terms already recognized by the United Nations, there is hope for progress.

The creation of the joint commission was first agreed upon by Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, during their 2019 meeting in Paris. This commission is tasked with charting the course of future negotiations concerning the Îles Éparses.