Why the Chagos Islands Should Remain British: Voices from the Heart of the Diaspora
Ryan Coogan
The future of the Chagos Archipelago remains one of the most emotionally and geopolitically complex questions in the Indian Ocean region. While legal and political debates rage over sovereignty between the United Kingdom and Mauritius, many Chagossians, those descended from the islands' original inhabitants are speaking out in favor of continued British administration. Their argument is rooted not in abstract geopolitics, but in lived experience, security, and a profound sense of identity.
A Community in Exile
Since the forced removal of the Chagossian people in the late 1960s and early 1970s to make way for the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, the community has lived primarily in the UK, Mauritius, and Seychelles. The trauma of displacement still reverberates across generations. But now, as international pressure mounts on Britain to cede the islands to Mauritius, many Chagossians fear a second betrayal; this time under the guise of restitution.
"We were exiled by the British, yes," says Misley Mandarin, a prominent Chagossian campaigner and community leader based in Crawley, West Sussex. "But the solution isn't to throw us from one coloniser to another. Our fight has always been for justice and the right to return; not to be handed over like property to a government that never consulted us."
The Case for British Sovereignty
Supporters of continued British control argue that the UK, though responsible for the original displacement, is now uniquely positioned to support meaningful resettlement and long-term investment. In 2022, the British government announced a £40 million support package for Chagossians, signaling a willingness to reconcile with the past.
Critics of Mauritian sovereignty raise concerns about governance, corruption, and the practicalities of resettlement. "Mauritius has not involved us in decisions," says Jean-Claude Perrier, a younger Chagossian activist. "They speak about us, not with us. Britain may have erred, but now they are listening. We can build something real with them."
Indeed, many in the community fear that Mauritian rule could complicate or stall resettlement entirely. There are also concerns that economic development, fishing rights, and military security might be jeopardized under Mauritian control, particularly if the US base on Diego Garcia were challenged or curtailed.
Identity and Citizenship
Many Chagossians have embraced British identity, holding UK passports and living in British communities. "Britain is where I was educated, where my children were born," Misley Mandarin explains. "But Chagos is where my ancestors rest. The two are connected. We want to return, not as Mauritians, but as British Chagossians."
This sentiment resonates across generations, who see British nationality not as a colonial imposition but as a framework through which justice, rights, and accountability can be pursued.
Crowdfunding for Self Determination
In a bid to amplify their voices, a group of Chagossians recently launched a crowdfunding campaign titled “Chagos for the Chagossians”, aimed at funding legal representation, advocacy, and awareness campaigns. The initiative has garnered support from diaspora communities in the UK and Europe, and even sympathetic MPs.
The campaign aims to ensure that any decisions about the islands' future include, not exclude the Chagossian people. "Too often we are spoken over by lawyers and diplomats," says Mandarin. "This fund is about reclaiming our voice. If sovereignty talks go forward, we must be at the table."
A Call for Consultation, Not Imposition
At the heart of the Chagossian argument is a simple principle: self determination. While Mauritius argues its legal case before international courts, Chagossians argue that neither Britain nor Mauritius should decide the fate of a people without their consent.
"Let the people of Chagos decide," says Perrier. "Not behind closed doors in London or Port Louis. Let us vote. Let us return. Let us rebuild."
Conclusion
The future of the Chagos Islands is more than a legal or diplomatic issue; it is a question of justice, identity, and voice. For many Chagossians like Misley Mandarin, the path forward lies not in transferring sovereignty from one colonial legacy to another, but in forging a future under a British framework that finally acknowledges and empowers their community.
"Keep Chagos British," she says, "but give Chagossians the power to shape what that really means."
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