What has happened to the Chagos Islands?

In 1965, Britain bought the Chagos islands for 3 million pounds – $4.1m at the present rate – from Mauritius to form the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Mauritius sold off the 65-island archipelago so it could gain independence three years later, and has since claimed the islands as its territory.

Why does Mauritius want the Chagos Islands?

According to Mauritius, the proposal to separate the Chagos Archipelago stemmed from a decision by the United Kingdom in the early 1960s to “accommodate the United States’ desire to use certain islands in the Indian Ocean for defence purposes.”

Why is Chagos banned?

After Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968, the United Kingdom refused to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius claiming in petitions submitted to the Permanent Court of Arbitration that the island was required to “accommodate the United States’ desire to use certain islands in the Indian Ocean for …

Who controls Chagos Archipelago?

Although Mauritius became independent in 1968, the Chagos archipelago remained under British control, sparking protests by Chagossians, who accuse London of carrying out an “illegal occupation” and barring them from their homeland.

What is the main claim of Mauritius?

The crux of the Mauritian claim is the right of self-determination. In its submission to the court, the Mauritian government claimed that the separation of the islands from Mauritius was in clear breach of UN resolution 1514, also known as the Colonial Declaration.

Who owns tromelin island?

Mauritius
Sovereignty claims Tromelin is administered as part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, a French Overseas Territory, but Mauritius claims sovereignty over the island despite its absence in the listing of the 8th article of the 1814 Paris Treaty.

Who owns Juan de Nova?

Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.

Which countries claim the Chagos Archipelago?

The island nation of Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (which is coterminous with the BIOT), including Diego Garcia. Maldives states that the UK’s claim to a 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone around the Chagos Archipelago is invalid as the islands are considered uninhabited.

Why are the Chagos Islands a dependency of Mauritius?

When Mauritius was a French colony, the Chagos Islands were administered as a dependency of Mauritius. With the Treaty of Paris of 1814, France ceded Mauritius and its dependencies to the United Kingdom.

What does the UN resolution on the Chagos Islands mean for US?

The resolution’s immediate consequence is that the UN and other international organisations are now bound by UN law to support the decolonisation of the Chagos Islands. The United Kingdom claims that it has no doubt about its sovereignty over the archipelago.

What is the climate like in the Chagos Archipelago?

The Chagos Archipelago has a tropical oceanic climate; hot and humid but moderated by trade winds. Climate is characterised by plenty of sunshine, warm temperatures, showers and light breezes.