🇲🇺 Territory of Mauritius is 1,000x larger than the size of Mauritius island.
😍 Many smaller, gorgeous islands (+ huge maritime territory) scattered all over the Indian Ocean form part of Mauritius.
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(😟 Some have been appropriated by superpowers to build military bases.)
Diego Garcia. It now houses a major US military base.
Illegally annexed by the British from Mauritian territory 50+ years ago, and its inhabitants were evicted.
The UK still refuses to completely decolonise Mauritius despite the UN ruling in favour of Mauritian sovereignty.
Agalega. India is currently building a military base on the island, after years of rapprochement between the Modi government and the rightwing Mauritian government.
The <500 inhabitants of Agalega now have their movements restricted and fear expulsion altogether.