evidence: The Mozambique Channel has been the theater of a territorial dispute between France and Madagascar since the independence of the latter in 1960. A number of uninhabited low lying islands located about halfway between Madagascar and the coast of Africa were detached from the Colony of Madagascar shortly before independence and formed a separate territory known as the "scattered islands of the Indian Ocean". These are, from North to South, the Glorioso Islands (also claimed by Comoros), Juan Da Nova, Bassas Da India and Europa. Tromelin, which is located East of Madagascar, is also part of the territory.