Four Chagossians Land on Atoll Amid Sovereignty Dispute. City, Country — Four Chagossians have landed on Île du Coin atoll in the British Indian Ocean Territory in an effort to establish a permanent settlement, aiming to complicate a planned transfer of the islands to Mauritius.
The group, which includes a man born on the island, claims that their move is to allow fellow Chagossians to return to their homeland.
However, the Mauritius attorney general dismissed the action as a publicity stunt.
According to local reports, Misley Mandarin, the leader of the group, is living in a tent on the remote atoll. He expects the arrival of more settlers in the coming weeks and months.
Mandarin, who was born in Mauritius, expressed his intention to enable the return of all Chagossians who he claims were born on Île du Coin and are still alive.
He also sought to reassure the United States that the settlement does not threaten the joint US — UK military base on Diego Garcia.
The British government is set to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under an agreement reached in 2025.
Under the terms of the deal, Britain would lease Diego Garcia to Mauritius for 99 years to maintain the military base.
The UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination has advised both nations not to ratify the agreement, arguing it could perpetuate historical rights violations. Mauritius has denied allegations of neglecting the Chagossians, a group that was forcibly removed from the islands in the 1960s and 1970s and resettled in Mauritius and Britain.
The Mauritius attorney general, Gavin Glover, told Radio Plus that the settlers had landed illegally and dismissed their actions as a “publicity stunt organized to create a situation of conflict with the British government. Officials commented on the matter.
In a statement, Trump said that Diego Garcia is of great strategic importance to the National Security of the United States.
He added that if the lease deal ever falls apart, he would have the right to secure and reinforce the American presence in Diego Garcia. Further details on the future of the Chagos Islands are expected as the situation develops.
