The map above shows the Chagos Islands also known as the Chagos Archipelago and were up until October 3 2024 part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The islands have a combined area of just 56.13 km2 (21.67 sq mi).
From the Guardian:
The UK has agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending years of bitter dispute over Britain’s last African colony.
The agreement will allow a right of return for Chagossians, who the UK expelled from their homes in the 1960s and 1970s, in what has been described as a crime against humanity and one of the most shameful episodes of postwar colonialism.
The Chagos Islands, officially known as the Chagos Archipelago, are a group of over 60 tropical islands located in the central Indian Ocean.
The islands have a fascinating, yet contentious, history and unique geography.
Geography
The Chagos Archipelago consists of seven atolls, the largest and most well-known being Diego Garcia.
Diego Garcia is home to a U.S. military base, which plays a significant role in the geopolitics of the region.
The atolls of the Chagos Archipelago include:
- Diego Garcia
- Peros Banhos
- Salomon Islands
- Egmont Islands
- Danger Island
- Three Brothers Islands
- Blenheim Reef
The islands are located around 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of the Maldives and nearly halfway between Tanzania in East Africa and Indonesia.
The total land area is small, roughly 60 square kilometers (23 square miles), but the maritime area under British jurisdiction stretches to around 544,000 square kilometers (210,000 square miles), creating an important exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with rich fishing resources.
The Chagos Archipelago has stunning coral reefs and is home to a diverse marine ecosystem, making it an important conservation area.
However, the islands’ remoteness and restricted access (due to military activities) have limited human impact, preserving much of the region’s natural beauty.
History
Early History and Colonial Era
The islands were uninhabited when they were first discovered by European explorers in the early 16th century.
Portuguese explorers were among the first to chart the region, but they did not settle the islands. The Chagos Archipelago eventually came under French colonial rule in the late 18th century, as part of the larger colony of Isle de France (modern-day Mauritius).
During this period, slaves from Africa and Madagascar were brought to the islands to work in coconut plantations.
In 1810, following the Napoleonic Wars, the British took control of Mauritius and its dependencies, including the Chagos Archipelago. The islands were administered from Mauritius and remained largely isolated, with the population primarily made up of slaves, their descendants, and plantation workers.
These early settlers and workers were the ancestors of the Chagossians or Ilois, the indigenous people of the Chagos Islands.
Cold War and Forced Evictions
The modern history of the Chagos Islands is marked by geopolitical struggles.
During the Cold War in the 1960s, the strategic location of Diego Garcia caught the attention of the United States, which sought a military base in the Indian Ocean to counter Soviet influence.
In 1965, the British government separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius, creating the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). This decision was made despite Mauritius being on the path to independence, sparking controversy over colonial borders and sovereignty.
Between 1967 and 1973, the British government forcibly removed the entire Chagossian population, around 1,500-2,000 people, to Mauritius and the Seychelles.
The expulsion was conducted to clear the way for the establishment of a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia. The displaced Chagossians have since fought a legal battle for the right to return to their homeland.
Legal Battles and Sovereignty Disputes
The expulsion of the Chagossians led to decades of legal struggles, both in British and international courts.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion that the British occupation of the Chagos Islands is illegal and that the territory should be returned to Mauritius. The United Nations General Assembly also passed a resolution supporting Mauritius’ claim to sovereignty.
The UK, however, maintained control of the islands and argued that they are essential for defense purposes, citing the strategic importance of the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, which has played key roles in military operations in the Middle East and Asia.
This base remains one of the most strategically significant U.S. military installations in the world.
Environmental Conservation
In 2010, the UK government established the Chagos Marine Protected Area (MPA), which is one of the largest in the world. This designation prohibits fishing and extractive activities within a 640,000-square-kilometer (247,000-square-mile) zone around the archipelago, aiming to protect the region’s rich biodiversity. However, this move has been criticized by Mauritius and the Chagossians, who argue that it complicates efforts for their resettlement.
Current Status
As mentioned above the islands will be handed back to Mauritius,
However, there will be an exception for the key island of Diego Garcia, which is home to a joint UK-US military base, and which will remain under UK control. Plans for the base were the reason the UK severed the Chagos Islands from the rest of Mauritius when it granted the latter independence in 1968 and forcibly displaced up to 2,000 people.
Find this map interesting? Please help by sharing it:
Rory says
Ref: Diego Garcia.
Any idea what the legal boundary will be for the newly agreed “99 year initial lease” is ?
Great web site, thanks.