Restoration of the Chagos Archipelago | An incomplete victory for Mauritius

After half a century of disputes, the United Kingdom returns the keys to the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius. Fifty-seven islands, except one…

A decolonial restitution

A page in British history is turning: the Chagos Islands, the United Kingdom’s last African colony, will finally be returned to Mauritius. English possession since 1814, this archipelago was retained by London in 1968 in exchange for Mauritian independence. The British then deported the approximately 2,000 Chagossians living on the atolls to build a joint military base with the United States – a move widely denounced by human rights organizations. Mauritius will have full control over the 57 islands of the archipelago, with the exception of a single…

Great victory for Mauritius

This new development, announced on October 3, can be seen as a victory for Mauritius, which has been demanding the restitution of the archipelago for more than 50 years. Negotiations accelerated in 2022, under pressure from the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. Good news also for the Chagossian diaspora, who should finally be allowed to return to the land of their ancestors.

Although the terms of the agreement between Mauritius and the United Kingdom are not yet known in detail, it is suggested that the British would participate in the reconstruction of the Chagos Islands through a trust fund managed by Mauritius.

Yes, but…

For David Vine, author of the book Island of Shamehowever, it is an “incomplete victory” for the Chagossians. The latter complain of having been ignored during the negotiations between London and Port-Louis and denounce a lack of consideration. “I heard the news in the media,” regrets Mylène Augustin, spokesperson for the Chagossian Voices association, located in London. “It came as a shock to me. Like a stake in the heart. It’s as if we don’t exist…”

Another snub: the Chagossians will not be allowed to live on the largest island in the archipelago, Diego Garcia, because of the American-British military base located there. According to Clive Baldwin, legal advisor at Human Rights Watch, the United Kingdom is missing a great opportunity to right its historic mistake. “As long as they [les Chagossiens] will not be able to return to Diego Garcia, this colonial crime will still be ongoing,” he said.

A strategic base

David Vine is surprised that we persist in “barring” the Chagossians of Diego Garcia, especially since the military installations only occupy a third of the island. He immediately cites the example of Guantanamo, in Cuba, where American soldiers and civilians coexist. Conservative columnists explain this refusal by the fact that Mauritius maintains links with China. A “fabricated” story, in Mr. Vine’s eyes. “My hypothesis is that Americans like to be in total control,” he says.

The expert nevertheless underlines the great geostrategic importance of this island, located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, at the crossroads of multiple interests (India, China, the West). He recalls that Diego Garcia served as the basis for controversial military operations, including the two wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and all American interventions in the Greater Middle East. “It is also increasingly used to threaten war against China and Iran,” adds Mr. Vine.

Chagossians, but British

Some 2,000 Chagossians were uprooted from their lands in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, the Chagossian diaspora numbers around 6,000 people spread across Mauritius, the Seychelles and the United Kingdom. Over the past 20 years, many have been granted British citizenship as a form of redress. Will they want to live in the Chagos Islands, under the Mauritian flag? It depends. Many have rebuilt their lives in England. They fear losing what they have acquired and returning to the poverty of the first years of their forced exile.

According to Henri Miramootoo, a Mauritian journalist who followed the case for 40 years, the Chagossians also kept a grudge against the Mauritian government, which they “consider guilty of their uprooting”. Mr. Miramootoo would not be surprised if they end up claiming full sovereignty. “There will be a colonial problem,” he said. I don’t think they will accept being under the Republic of Mauritius. I think they either want autonomy or independence. »

Rebuild

According to David Vine, more than 90% of Chagossians say they are interested in seeing Chagos again “at least to visit”. Some might wait to see how the archipelago develops economically before moving there again. The Chagos Archipelago could notably take inspiration from the Seychelles and develop a high-end tourism industry. All this for when? That is the question.

“My mother is 80 years old. I’m afraid she will die before then,” summarizes Mylène Augustin. The most important thing, she adds, is that the Chagossians and their descendants have a voice. “This is our island, our heritage. Let us decide our future. »