Chagos

Chagos, also known as the Chagos Archipelago, is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean that forms the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), a British overseas territory. The archipelago comprises about 55 islands, the largest of which is Diego Garcia, where a joint United Kingdom–United States military facility is located. The territory has no permanent indigenous population; a small civilian workforce serves the base, and most residents are temporary personnel.

Administration and governance: BIOT is administered by a Commissioner appointed by the British Crown. Laws are those of the United Kingdom, with limited self-government. The territory’s economy is largely tied to the military base and related services; there is no independent currency or significant tourism infrastructure.

History: The Chagos islands were detached from Mauritius during the 1960s to form BIOT and to provide a base for the United States. Between 1967 and 1973, most Chagossians were forcibly relocated to Mauritius and Seychelles, leading to decades of legal and political disputes over resettlement and compensation. The population on BIOT today consists mainly of U.K. and U.S. personnel and contractors.

Status and disputes: Sovereignty remains disputed. Mauritius claims Chagos as part of its territory, while the United Kingdom administers BIOT. In 2019 the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion concluding that Mauritius has a legitimate claim to sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago and that the decolonization of Mauritius was not lawfully completed; the UK maintains control pending negotiations. The UK established the Chagos Marine Protected Area in 2010, restricting most commercial fishing around the islands.

Environment: The archipelago comprises coral atolls, reefs, and lagoons with rich marine biodiversity. It is known for extensive reefs and a large marine protected area.