50 years since Aldabra’s return to Seychelles |10 August 2026

50 years since Aldabra’s return to Seychelles

On June 29, 2026, as Seychelles celebrated 50 years of independence, the nation also marked another important anniversary: 50 years since Aldabra, along with Desroches and Farquhar islands, were officially returned to Seychelles following their temporary separation under British administration.

In 1965, the British government detached the three islands from the Seychelles colony, alongside the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius, to establish the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) for defence purposes. The move was formalised through an Order in Council on November 8, 1965, which brought together the Chagos Archipelago, the Aldabra Group, Desroches and Farquhar as part of the newly created territory.

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