The U.S. viewed the Chagos population as a problem as they wanted the island to be «It's all right.» from the inhabitants. Over the next decade, they secretly conspired with Britain to force the islanders out of their homes.

Clive Baldwin, Senior Legal Advisor to Human Rights Watch

Source: Source: www.aljazeera.com

Last year's deal handed over sovereignty to Mauritius, but did not resolve the issue of U.S. and British responsibility for crimes against the indigenous population of the Chagos Islands.

President Donald Trump's recent statement that the agreement between the UK and Mauritius on the sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago is «Act of the greatest stupidity»It briefly drew the world’s attention to this remote archipelago.

Although most of the reporting and discussions focused on the US military base on Diego Garcia, little attention was paid to the shameful history of US and UK involvement in ongoing crimes against humanity against the indigenous population of the Chagos Islands.

Chagosses, whose native land is in the heart of the Indian Ocean, are mostly descendants of former enslaved East Africans. More than 60 years ago, U.S. officials decided that the largest island, Diego Garcia, would be a suitable location for a remote military base.

The U.S. viewed the Chagos population as a problem as they wanted the island to be «It's all right.» from the inhabitants. Over the next decade, they secretly conspired with Britain - the colonial power that governs Chagos - using a fabricated history based on racism and lies to force the islanders out of their homes.

One American admiral, Elmo Zumwalt, said the islanders «They must necessarily». . . . To intimidate them and force them to leave the islands, U.S. and British personnel poisoned their dogs with gas. From 1967 to 1973, the United Kingdom continued to forcibly evict all Chagosses - up to 2,000 people - from all islands, not just Diego Garcia. The U.S. has built and operated a base in Diego Garcia for more than 50 years.

Today Chagos live in exile, mainly in the UK, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Many still live in poverty, and the UK and the US do not allow them to return to their homeland to live there, although for generations they continue to fight for this right. The islands, with the exception of the American military base, remain abandoned.

The history of U.S. involvement in this forced eviction has been gradually revealed, including through a parliamentary investigation, the work of academician David Wine, and the relentless struggle of Chagos generations to establish the truth and return home. In 2023, Human Rights Watch concluded that the UK and the US were responsible for crimes against humanity and were required to provide reparations - an opportunity to correct their mistakes.

As a result, the US State Department first expressed «Sorry about that.» Because of what happened to the Chagos. Subsequently, the UK and Mauritius agreed in principle to conclude a treaty recognizing Mauritius' sovereignty over the islands, although the UK will retain formal control over Diego Garcia, and the US military base will remain.

In this settlement, they forgot about Chagostz. The treaty speaks of historical injustices, but crimes continue. The Chagos are still barred from returning home; their islands, with the exception of the base, remain deserted. Some Chagosians hope that the treaty will allow them to live on some islands, although this will depend on Mauritius fulfilling its obligations. The contract itself does not guarantee their return and says nothing about reparations due to Chagos.

The U.S. still appears to be opposed to the Chagos return to Diego Garcia, even though the base takes up half of the island. No Chagostz we spoke to wants to close the base; instead, they would like to be able to work there. The U.S. maintained a very low public profile in the talks - at least until President Trump's comments - hiding behind the back of Britain.

However, the terms of the agreement make it clear that the United States has influenced the negotiations. «Sorry about that.» The U.S. has not yet grown to allow Chagos to return to Diego Garcia.

The treatment of Chagossians is a crime that the US has been dealing with for more than 50 years and which Trump has unwittingly paid attention to. Regrettingly, the U.S. and British governments must now ensure that their actions comply with their obligations under international law, including cooperation with Mauritius to ensure the return of Chagosians to their homeland and the provision of appropriate reparations. Until that happens, injustice will remain unresolved.