Displaced islanders from the Chagos Islands demonstrated outside the UK Parliament on Monday, voicing their opposition to a recent agreement they believe has determined the future of their homeland without their involvement. These islanders were forcibly removed from their remote Indian Ocean home five decades ago to make way for the establishment of a US military base.
Last week, the British government announced that it would transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under an agreement that allows the continued presence of the US naval and bomber base on Diego Garcia. Critics of this deal have raised concerns about its implications for those displaced, leaving them uncertain about the possibility of returning home.
“They made this deal without consulting us, which is at the core of this entire tragedy,” one protester stated. This agreement has been characterized as “history repeating itself,” with concerns that it primarily benefits the parties involved while neglecting the needs of the displaced islanders.
Historical Background
The Chagos Islands, a tropical archipelago located south of the equator, have been under British control since 1814. In 1965, they were designated as the British Indian Ocean Territory, separating from Mauritius, a UK colony that gained independence shortly thereafter. In the 1960s and 1970s, the British government forcibly expelled approximately 2,000 residents from the islands to facilitate the construction of the Diego Garcia base, which has supported US military operations in various conflicts, including Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The base has also been linked to secret rendition flights involving terror suspects.
Many Chagossians resettled in the UK, where they have faced challenges in their efforts to return home through legal avenues.
International Support
The displaced islanders have garnered international support, particularly from African nations and the United Nations. In 2019, the International Court of Justice issued a non-binding opinion stating that the UK unlawfully divided Mauritius when it ended colonial rule in the late 1960s. Following this ruling, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for Britain to cease its “colonial administration” of the Chagos Islands and return them to Mauritius.
The new Labour government in the UK has asserted that without this agreement, the military base’s status would be threatened by potential legal challenges. The Foreign Secretary remarked that the current administration “inherited unfinished business” from the previous Conservative government, which began discussions with Mauritius in 2022.
Details of the Agreement
Under the terms of the new agreement, the UK will maintain sovereignty over Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years, paying an undisclosed rent to Mauritius. US President Joe Biden welcomed the deal, stating it “secures the effective operation of the joint facility on Diego Garcia into the next century.”
Additionally, the agreement establishes a resettlement fund for displaced Chagossians, aiming to facilitate their return to the islands, excluding Diego Garcia. The UK government has indicated that the responsibility for organizing any returns now rests with Mauritius.
“They shouldn’t have made this deal without considering our needs,” commented a representative of the Chagossian community. “To them, it may just be another island or a military base, but for us, it represents our home.”
