Government admits Chagossians unlikely to be able to return to islands

Rt.Hon. David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary/ Ben Dance, FCDO 

Chagos Islanders are unlikely to be able to return to their homeland despite Britain’s landmark agreement to transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius, The Times reports.

While the deal has been praised as a step toward decolonisation by many, including the UN, many Chagossians see it as a profound defeat. 

Chagossians Bernadette Dugasse and Bertice Pompe have threatened legal action against the UK, citing concerns that the Mauritian government will not guarantee fair compensation or support. Others, like Chagossian campaigner Olivier Bancoult, continue to support the agreement.

In a response to the letter before action from Dugasse and Pompe, UK government lawyers admitted that “very significant logistical challenges” make it “necessarily uncertain” that Mauritius will ever implement a resettlement plan.

Under the deal the UK will pay Mauritius £90 million annually for 99 years to lease Diego Garcia, maintaining its strategic US military base. 

Chagossians have been told that they will be compensated via a new Trust Fund. However this will be administered by Mauritius, a point of contention among displaced islanders around the world.

Alexia Psalti/22.4.25