Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Africa.
Residents Worry as India Expands Infrastructure on Tiny Agalega Island
For Arnaud Poulay, a longtime resident of the small Indian Ocean island of Agalega, the recent changes have been unsettling. The tiny Mauritian territory of about 350 people has seen a dramatic transformation since 2015 when Mauritius signed an agreement with India to build a vast 3,000 meter runway and a large jetty, enabling greater access for aircraft and ships. Now, many locals worry this infrastructure marks a move toward turning Agalega into a military outpost, stirring fears reminiscent of the controversial displacement of people from the Chagos Islands decades ago.
The Transformation of Agalega
Agalega, an island group covering just 25 square kilometers, once operated primarily as a peaceful fishing community. Supplies arrived only four times a year from the Mauritian mainland, with a small airstrip used solely for emergencies. However, new satellite images from 2023 reveal extensive developments: a 3,000 meter runway stretches across the northern island, flanked by expansive hangar like buildings. These structures could potentially house advanced surveillance aircraft, such as India’s P 8I an anti submarine and maritime surveillance plane frequently used by India’s Navy, according to Australian National University scholar Samuel Bashfield.
The newly built jetty could also support Indian patrol vessels, allowing access to the Indian Ocean’s shipping lanes. Experts speculate that the installation may contain a coastal radar surveillance system, similar to the Indian-built technology installed elsewhere in Mauritius.
Growing Fears Among Locals
Islanders like Poulay, who actively campaigned against the project, feel they are witnessing the early stages of full militarization. Poulay recently left Agalega, heartbroken and concerned about the direction the island was taking. The president of the Association of Friends of Agalega, Laval Soopramanien, echoes this sentiment, fearing that Agalega may face a fate similar to the Chagos Islands, where residents were forcibly displaced to make way for a military base.
This worry is shared by Billy Henri, a young resident with ancestral ties to the Chagos Islands. Henri voices deep concerns over Mauritius’ intentions, noting that essential services remain neglected while infrastructure for outsiders is developed. “Agalega is becoming like Chagos,” he says, pointing to limited healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, which many feel are deteriorating rather than improving.
A Lack of Transparency
The lack of published details on the 2015 agreement between Mauritius and India has only heightened distrust among locals. The secrecy surrounding the memorandum has led to speculation about India’s long-term intentions for Agalega, with analysts suggesting it could be part of a broader strategic effort to monitor China’s growing presence in the region.
While Mauritius maintains that the facilities were constructed to aid in combating piracy, drug trafficking, and illegal fishing, residents report that the new infrastructure has not improved their daily lives. Although a hospital was built with Indian funds, locals claim they are denied access, with some cases of emergency care being rerouted to Mauritius’ main island.
Historical Parallels and Regional Tensions
The situation on Agalega recalls the fraught history of the Chagos Islands, where the UK expelled local inhabitants in the 1960s to make way for the US military base on Diego Garcia. Many of Agalega’s residents have family members who were displaced from Chagos, and they fear that history may repeat itself.
Meanwhile, India remains silent on specific details about Agalega’s role, with official statements underscoring only the “natural partnership” between Mauritius and India in promoting regional security. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth insists his administration is committed to Agalega’s socio-economic development, recently announcing a “master plan” to enhance local healthcare, education, and transport infrastructure. However, without transparency regarding the full details of the 2015 agreement, local skepticism remains strong.
As satellite surveillance reveals more about Agalega’s changing landscape, questions persist about whether the island’s residents are being pushed out in favor of India’s strategic interests. For many Agalegans, the promise of improved infrastructure is overshadowed by the prospect of becoming collateral in a geopolitical struggle, as Agalega appears poised to become a key asset in the Indian Ocean’s increasingly tense waters.
