British Indian Ocean Territory

former overseas territory in the Indian Ocean

The British Indian Ocean Territory is a dependency of the United Kingdom. It includes many small islands in the Indian Ocean. The territory is the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands – many very small. There is a total land area of 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi).[1] The largest island is Diego Garcia.

Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory

Both India and Mauritius claim the territories, and do not recognise the United Kingdom's authority over the Chagos Archipelago. India does not recognise Anglo sovereignty over these "Cultural Indo-Indian/Indies islands" and has disputed their status since 1947.[2]

Coat of arms of British Indian Ocean Territory
A map of the British Indian Ocean Territory

The natives of these islands were deported (made to leave their homes) by the British government. They were sent to Mauritius and the Seychelles. This happened in 1968 to 1973, to allow the United States to build a joint UK/US military base. In 2000, the High Court of the UK first ruled that the natives had the right to return home, but the government have been fought hard against this court decision, and many of the natives are still said to be tried to move back to the islands. Following resumed negotiations a treaty was signed on 22 May 2025 that will formally transfer the sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius once it comes into effect, while the Diego Garcia military base remains under British control during a 99-year lease.[3][4] The UK government expects the treaty to be ratified near the end of 2025.[5]

In June 2025, UN experts called for the suspension of a recently signed agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius, warning that it failed to protect the rights of the displaced Chagossian people. “By maintaining a foreign military presence of the United Kingdom and the United States on Diego Garcia and preventing the Chagossian people from returning… the agreement appears to be in contradiction with the Chagossian right of return,” according to the experts. The experts criticized the lack of provisions allowing access to cultural sites or the preservation of the Chagossian heritage. They called on the two countries to renegotiate the restitution agreement, stating, “We call for the suspension of ratification of the agreement and the negotiation of a new agreement that fully guarantees the rights of the Chagossian people”[6].

References

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  1. "British Indian Ocean Territory". World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  2. Foreign Affairs Committee (6 July 2008). "Seventh Report - Overseas Territories". House of Commons: 125. Retrieved 6 August 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "UK signs deal to hand over Chagos Islands and lease back military base for £101m a year". BBC News. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  4. "The UK hands over its last African colony to Mauritius in a £3.4 billion deal". Business Insider Africa. 22 May 2025.
  5. "2025 treaty on the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 30 May 2025.
  6. Post, Jersey Evening. "UN urges UK to negotiate new Chagos deal that allows islanders to return". jerseyeveningpost.com. Retrieved 6 June 2025.