Exiled Chagossians Can Finally Return Home After Landmark UK-Mauritius Deal
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📰 The quick summary: A landmark agreement transfers sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago from the UK to Mauritius, allowing Chagossians to return to their homeland after being forcibly exiled in the 1960s and 1970s.
📈 One key stat: The Chagos marine protected area covers 640,000 square kilometers, making it the largest no-fishing zone in the world with nearly 800 fish species, including 50 species of sharks.
💬 One key quote: “I’m a native born in Diego Garcia, uprooted, deported and dumped in the Seychelles,” Bernadette Dugasse told Mongabay.
1️⃣ The big picture: After decades of struggle, sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago is being transferred from the UK to Mauritius through a historic agreement signed this year. The deal allows Chagossians to return to their homeland after being forcibly expelled in the late 1960s and early 1970s to make way for a US military base. This vast Indian Ocean territory includes one of the world’s largest marine protected areas, home to exceptional biodiversity with nearly 800 fish species and 300 species of reef-building corals. While the agreement represents progress for displaced Chagossians, Diego Garcia island will remain under UK-US military control for at least 99 years.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Exiled Chagossians can finally return to their ancestral homeland after almost six decades of forced displacement. The agreement provides for a trust fund of £40 million for Chagossians and annual payments to Mauritius, offering financial support for the returning community. Resettlement plans include sustainable development with low-impact tourism and traditional industries like fishing and coconut production. The presence of permanent Chagossian residents could help protect the marine environment by deterring illegal fishing activities. This settlement begins to address a historical injustice while maintaining protection for one of the world’s most pristine marine ecosystems.
3️⃣ What’s next: Mauritius must now establish its own marine protected area framework to safeguard the extraordinary biodiversity of the Chagos waters. Resettlement plans for Peros Banhos and Salomon islands need to be developed with careful environmental assessments. The agreement still awaits ratification by the UK parliament before implementation can begin in earnest.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – A deal signals a new chapter for Chagossians, and one of the world’s largest marine no-fishing zones
