UK-Mauritius treaty on Chagos Archipelago

The UK has agreed to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, bringing an end to a long-standing dispute over Britain’s last African colony.

Background:

• The agreement will allow the Chagossians, who were forcibly expelled from their homes by the UK in the 1960s and 1970s, to return. This displacement has been condemned as a crime against humanity and one of the most shameful acts of postwar colonialism.

Key takeaways:

• The Chagos Archipelago, or Chagos Islands, consists of over 60 islands across seven atolls in the Indian Ocean, about 500 kilometers south of the Maldives.
• The islands form the southernmost part of the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, a large submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean.
• To the north are the Salomon Islands, Nelsons Island, and Peros Banhos; to the southwest are the Three Brothers, Eagle Islands, Egmont Islands, and Danger Island; southeast lies Diego Garcia, the largest island.
• The Chagos Archipelago contains the world's largest coral atoll, the Great Chagos Bank, home to half of the Indian Ocean's high-quality coral reefs.

Timeline:

• 1783: The Chagos Islands' first inhabitants, enslaved Africans, are brought to work on French-run coconut plantations. Later, emancipated slaves are joined by indentured Indian laborers.
• 1814: Britain formally takes control of the Chagos Islands and nearby Mauritius from France.
• 1965: The Chagos Islands are designated as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The UK agrees with the US to establish a military base on Diego Garcia.
• 1968: Mauritius gains independence, but the UK retains control of the BIOT.
• 1967-1973: The entire Chagos population is forcibly displaced, with many resettling in Mauritius or Seychelles. Human Rights Watch condemns this as a “colonial crime” and a crime against humanity.
• 2019: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules the UK’s occupation of the Chagos Islands illegal and calls for their return to Mauritius. The UN General Assembly passes a resolution demanding British withdrawal within six months, which the UK does not fulfill.
• 2021: The UN’s maritime court rejects the UK’s claim to sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.
• 2024: The UK agrees to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the military base on Diego Garcia, which it operates with the US.