The Chagos Islands, a remote archipelago in the Indian Ocean, have been at the center of a long-standing dispute over sovereignty and the rights of its indigenous people, the Chagossians. Last year's deal between the UK and Mauritius, which handed sovereignty to Mauritius, did not resolve the issue of US and UK responsibility for crimes against the Chagossians.
The Chagossians, who are largely descended from formerly enslaved East Africans, were forcibly displaced from their island homeland by the UK and US over 50 years ago. The US wanted to build a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island, and saw the Chagossian population as a problem. The UK and US secretly plotted to force the islanders from their home, using a manufactured story based on racism and lies.
Today, the Chagossians live in exile, largely in the UK, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. Many remain in poverty and have been prevented by the UK and US from returning to live in their homeland. The islands, apart from the US military base, remain abandoned. The story of US involvement in this forced displacement has been gradually uncovered, including through a congressional inquiry and the work of academic David Vine.
In 2023, Human Rights Watch found that the UK and US were responsible for crimes against humanity and had a duty to provide reparations. The US State Department acknowledged "regret" for what had happened to the Chagossians, and the UK and Mauritius agreed in principle to a treaty to recognize Mauritian sovereignty over the islands. However, the treaty does not guarantee the return of the Chagossians to their homeland or provide reparations.
International Response
The US still appears opposed to Chagossians returning to Diego Garcia, despite the base occupying at most half the island. The Chagossians hope that the treaty will allow them to live on some of the islands, though this will depend on Mauritius fulfilling its obligations. The US has kept a low public profile in the negotiations, hiding behind the UK.
The treatment of the Chagossians is a crime in which the US has been implicated for over 50 years. The US and UK governments should now ensure that their actions align with their obligations under international law, including working with Mauritius to enable the Chagossians to return to their homeland and providing appropriate reparations.
Source: Al Jazeera
