Chagos Islands: Where is the archipelago and can I visit the British Indian Ocean Territory?
THE Chagos Islands are an archipelago that have made headlines after the UK agreed to hand sovereignty over the group to Mauritius.
One of the islands, Diego Garcia, is especially important when it comes to international politics.
But why were the islands handed back to Mauritius and can everyday people visit?
Here’s everything you need to know.
Where are the Chagos Islands?
The Chagos Islands are a collection of 60 islands that lie 500km south of the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean.
They were claimed by Mauritius, after the country gained independence in 1968.
However, the Chagossian people on the Diego Garcia island were forcibly removed by the British in the 1970s.
Why are the Chagos Islands significant?
Diego Garcia is a significant island, because it is home to a UK-US military base.
The island’s position allows the US to operate across much of the Indo-Pacific region.
On October 3, 2024, the governments of the UK and Mauritius released a statement announcing that control of the islands would be handed back to Mauritius.
This came after enormous pressure from the UN and several international courts.
However, the Diego Garcia base would be leased to the US for the next 99 years.
Can you visit the Chagos Islands?
Diego Garcia is off-limits to any non-military personnel.
This restriction also applies to the wider British Indian Ocean Territory, which encompasses the islands.
Because of these restrictions, it is very rare that every day people can visit the islands.