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Socio-economic problems of african eastem countries and south-western islands of Indian Ocean. African eastem states and south-eastern islands of Indian Ocean are a very varied and heterogenous group of countries (71 millions inhabitants) with high mountains and low peripheric zones, humid tropical climates and arid regions, high and low densities sectors, historical and political specific evolution. This group has in common a lot of problems. Socio-demographic problems first : multi-ethnic societies, strongly contrasted densities, terrific demographic growth. Economic difficulties are important. Large differences are existing between countries in which primary sector is predominant and those in which tertiary sector is the leading one ; at any case industry, except Mauritius, is in poor conditions.

The Reunion is a french island in the Indian Ocean (2 512 sq km ; 515 798 inhabitants). Previously french colony, it is since 1946 a french departement. Lost in the Ocean, 10 000 km away from Paris, the Reunion is a mountainous, volcanic and tropical island with a colonial inheritance. Plantation agriculture with servile labour was the first economic structure. One of the results of this kind of organisation is a mixed-blood population and an original « creole civilization ». French Government did a lot for developping the island and the socio-economic progress is obvious. But the insular economy is not yet really developped. Economic dependance, unbalanced development remain. Heavy social problems are not solved : strong demographic growth, social changes with large disparities, unemployment, urbanization, quest for a cultural identity...

The Organization of Space in Mauritius. The organization of space in Mauritius, a small island of 1 865 km² (1 164 square miles), is somewhat dichotomic. The central urban region, organized around Port-Louis, the harbour capital, benefits from externalities, upon which comparative advantages of regions are founded nowadays : it concentrates more than half of the population and more than 80 % of industries and services. The outlying rural region is essentially agricultural indeed — sugar cane and, secondarily, tea on the " high lands " — but its coastline has quite often been developed into sea resorts. Such a structure of space is polygenic. It is composed of elements among which some have been inherited from the past and others are the result of a policy of independence. From colonial past there remains the quasi-monoculture of sugar cane and a pluri-ethnical society originated from Europeans (French Mauritians), Afro-Malagasy, and Asians among whom the Indian population, partitioned into communities, prevails. lndependence has had the social effect of a swift demographic increase in a fair way to being jugulated, and the economical effect of a development of new activites, international tourism and export industries in the free zone. Such an orientation integrates the island into Europe rather than its own geographical environment. Though the gross national product grows faster than population, the increase of consumption is larger than the increase of that product, and external dependence grows in proportion.

Republic of Seychelles is an insular « micro-state » (area : 444 sq km, population : 65000). This archipelago is composed, of 115 islands (but only 20 are inhabited). The major part of population is living on granitic isles (Inner Islands) ; some very limited groups remain on the atolls and flat islands of Amirantes, Farquhar and Aldabra. A lot of endemic species are present too. The archipelago has been occupied lately (second half of 18th century). These islands were first a french colony (1742-1811) then a british settlement (1811-1976) ; since this date Seychelles are an independant country. One of the consequences of the colonization with a plantation agriculture is a widely mixed-blood population. The most important « center » is Mahé island (area : 154 sq km ; population : 57000). In Victoria, the capital and the only one city, are concentraded almost all service and manufacturing activities. Since 1971, when an international airport was built, Seychelles are a very important international tourist country. Tourism is now the leading sector of economy. Plantation agriculture is on the decay, industry is poorly developed. But this « micro-state » has many heavy problems and the international aid is necessary.