Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia Island | 09 Oct 2024

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

Recently, the United Kingdom (UK) agreed to cede sovereignty of the strategically important Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. 

• However, the UK will continue to exercise sovereign rights over Diego Garcia island. 

What are the Key Facts Regarding the Chagos Archipelago? 

• Geography of the Chagos Archipelago: It consists of 58 islands and is located approximately 500 km south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.  
• History of the Chagos Archipelago: The French were the first to colonize Mauritius along with the Chagos Islands in 1715.  
  • In the late 18th century, the French brought in slave labour from Africa and India to work in newly established coconut plantations. 
  • However, the UK took control of the region in 1814 after the fall of France’s Napoleon Bonaparte.  
  • In 1965, the UK constituted the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), of which the Chagos Islands were a central part.  
• Mauritius’ Claims Over Chagos: Chagos was attached to Mauritius, another British colony in the Indian Ocean, for administrative purposes.  
  • When Mauritius gained independence in 1968, Chagos remained with Britain, which gave Mauritius a 3 million pound grant for the "detachment." 
• Strategic Importance of Chagos and Diego Garcia: In 1966, Britain signed an agreement with the United States to use the BIOT for military purposes.  
  • Subsequently, the plantation on Diego Garcia was shut down and it became unlawful for a person to enter or remain in Diego Garcia without a permit. 
  • Diego Garcia, the largest in the archipelago, became a fully operational military base in 1986.  
  • It was a key location in the US overseas “war on terror” operations following al-Qaeda’s September 11 attacks on the US in 2001.  
• International Pressure on the UK: In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion that asked the United Kingdom to unconditionally withdraw its colonial administration from the area within six months. 
  • The ICJ ruled that the 1965 detachment of Chagos from Mauritius before its independence was illegal. 

What are the Key Details of the UK-Mauritius Agreement? 

• Sovereignty Over Chagos: The deal grants Mauritius full sovereignty over the archipelago except Diego Garcia island. 
• Resettlement of Chagossians: Mauritius can now resettle people on the Chagos Archipelago, except Diego Garcia, where Britain evicted 2,000 islanders for a US naval base. 
• Trust Fund: The UK has also promised to create a new trust fund for the benefit of the people of Chagos.