In a significant move, four Chagos Islanders have landed on Île du Coin to create what they assert will be a permanent settlement in the Chagos Archipelago. This initiative appears to be a calculated effort to complicate the British government's plans to transfer sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius by 2025, a decision that has drawn criticism from some Chagossians. They argue that Mauritius has neglected the interests of the Chagos Islanders for decades, a claim that the Mauritian government denies while dismissing the settlement efforts as a mere publicity stunt.

The current agreement between Britain and Mauritius outlines the transfer of sovereignty of most islands in the archipelago, except for Diego Garcia, which will remain under British control as a military base leased to the United States for 99 years. Misley Mandarin, a Chagos Island leader, has expressed intentions of increasing the settlement’s population, signaling a movement that could pose challenges to the British plan. As more arrivals are anticipated in the coming week and year, the establishment of this settlement could significantly impact discussions surrounding the territory’s future.

This action not only underlines the ongoing contention between the Chagos community, Mauritius, and Britain regarding sovereignty but also highlights the persistent feelings of dislocation among the Chagossians, who were forcibly removed from the islands in the 1960s and 70s. The ramifications of this settlement and the 2025 sovereignty transfer agreement may have lasting implications for the geopolitical dynamics in the region, particularly concerning military strategy and the rights of indigenous peoples.