#CHAGOS

Search

Chagossians launch US legal challenge

Aug 17, 2020
1 min

Chagossians launch US legal challenge

Chagossians are launching legal action in the USA, calling for compensation for their 50 years of enforced exile and the suffering endured due to a lack of promised support. The claim, which is led by Chagossians Solomon Prosper and Bernard Nourrice, seeks damages of up to $100,000 for each individual Chagossian under the US Foreign Claims Act, which requires the US Military to set up claims commissions to handle damage claims by foreign citizens. The Chagossians’ lawyer, Dr.

Artists raising money for Chagossians with unique prints

Aug 4, 2020
1 min

Artists raising money for Chagossians with unique prints

Photographer Audrey Albert is raising money for the Chagos Refugees Group by selling her works she recently created exploring her own part-Chagossian heritage. Born in Mauritius, Audrey has lived in the UK for several years and studied photography at the University of Manchester. Her own grandmother was born on the Chagos Islands. Our Trustee, Karishma Bolakee, spoke to her on Zoom about her project, her interest in the Chagossian story and her own relationship with her herit

Breaking: UK Court of Appeal dismisses Chagossian claim

Jul 30, 2020
2 min

Breaking: UK Court of Appeal dismisses Chagossian claim

The Court of Appeal today delivered it's verdict on a legal challenge brought by Chagossians to the 2016 UK government decision not to support Chagossian right of return to their homeland. Judges ruled against the Chagossians, who had argued the 2016 decision not to support the right to return to their homeland was illegal. Details of the case, which was brought by Chagos Refugees Group co-founder Olivier Bancoult and Solange Hoareau, a Chagossian born on the islands exiled t

Henry Smith MP asks Home Secretary for reform to citizenship law for Chagossians

Jul 29, 2020
2 min

Henry Smith MP asks Home Secretary for reform to citizenship law for Chagossians

Conservative MP for Crawley Henry Smith has spoken in Parliament to challenge Home Secretary Priti Patel to reform citizenship law to stop young Chagossians facing excessive immigration costs and even deportation from the UK. Mr Smith was speaking after a statement on the 'Windrush' report. In the previous Parliament, Mr Smith proposed a Private Members Bill which would have given a path to British citizenship for all descendants of people born on the Chagos Islands. The bill

United Nations map marks Chagos Islands as Mauritian territory

Jun 29, 2020
2 min

United Nations map marks Chagos Islands as Mauritian territory

In a symbolic moment in the history of the Chagos Islands, an official world map produced by the United Nations has identified the Chagos Islands as Mauritian territory. This follows a 2019 UN General Assembly vote that overwhelmingly instructed the UK to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius within six months. UK Ministers have repeatedly indicated that they have "no doubt" over their sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and have given no suggestion that they will c

Chagossians bring case to UK Court of Appeal

May 16, 2020
1 min

Chagossians bring case to UK Court of Appeal

Chagosssians have this week been making their case in the UK Court of Appeal, appealing a High Court dismissal of a prior claim that the 2016 government decision to reject their right to return to their homeland was a breach of their human rights. Solange Hoareau, a Chagossian born on the islands exiled to the Seychelles, and Olivier Bancoult, born on Peros Banhos, exiled to Mauritius and now leader of Chagos Refugees Group, have jointly brought this case. Lawyers representin

Report: UK government's £40m 'Support Package' yet to help Chagossians

May 11, 2020
2 min

Report: UK government's £40m 'Support Package' yet to help Chagossians

A recent report in national UK newspaper The Guardian confirms that the £40m Support Package promised to Chagossians in 2016 has yet to assist almost any Chagossians. The £40m Support Package was promised in 2016, when the UK government announced that they would not support Chagossian resettlement of their homeland, following a four year policy review. In her piece for The Guardian, Kate McQue speaks to a number of Chagossians in serious financial difficulty who have been una

Chagos Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group meeting: Coordinator's Summary

Mar 15, 2020
2 min

Chagos Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group meeting: Coordinator's Summary

During the latest meeting of the Chagos Islands All-Party Parliamentary group several new members were welcomed and as ever political and legal developments relevant to the islands and their people were discussed by all present. Thanks to Coordinator David Snoxell for the below summary. The Chagos Islands (BIOT) All-party Parliamentary Group held its 77th meeting on 4 March. New members Lord McConnell (a former First Minister of Scotland), Baroness Lister, Lord Judd (former F

Chagos Islands All-Party Group: Reformation & Coordinator's Summary

Feb 9, 2020
3 min

Chagos Islands All-Party Group: Reformation & Coordinator's Summary

The Chagos Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group has reformed for the next Parliament. Below the latest appointments are listed and a summary of their first meeting is provided. Thanks to David Snoxell, who continues as the group's voluntary coordinator, for the below summary. The Chagos Islands (BIOT) All-party Parliamentary Group held its 76th meeting and first meeting of the new Parliament on 29 January. The following officers were re-elected: Hon President, Jeremy Corbyn

Chagos Islands National Football team qualifies for CONIFA World Cup

Jan 15, 2020
1 min

Chagos Islands National Football team qualifies for CONIFA World Cup

The Chagos Islands National Football has successfully qualified for the CONIFA World Cup, to be held next year in North Macedonia. The tournament will be begin on 30th May. The CONIFA World Cup gives nations not recognised by football's official world governing body - FIFA - the chance to compete. The Chagos Islands National Football team has taken part in the previous two tournaments, raising significant awareness of not only the team but wider Chagossian history and the inj

UNESCO recognises Chagossian sega on Intangible Cultural Heritage list

Dec 11, 2019
1 min

UNESCO recognises Chagossian sega on Intangible Cultural Heritage list

Chagossian Tambour Sega music has been recognised by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on their list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In the announcement, UNESCO also classify Chagossian Sega as "In Urgent Need of Safeguarding." Recognising traditional Chagossian Segas related directly to the islands from which they are now exiled and that the passing away of community elders with expertise are threats to traditional Chagossian segas fu

Chagos Football team to play celebs & ex-pros this Sunday

Nov 26, 2019
1 min

Chagos Football team to play celebs & ex-pros this Sunday

This Sunday the Chagos International Football Team will be playing a high profile game against Supporting Charities Football Club. Supporting Charities Football Club play to games to help raise awareness of and support for a variety of causes. The game is being played at Hyde United's Ewen Fields ground and tickets can be bought on the night for £5 (free for kids). Gates will be open from 4:30PM. The Chagos International Football have played a range of games over the past few

6 months on from UN General Assembly deadline, Chagossians still waiting for justice

Nov 22, 2019
3 min

6 months on from UN General Assembly deadline, Chagossians still waiting for justice

Six months ago today the UN General Assembly voted that the Chagos Islands should be ceded by the UK to Mauritius. They also indicated that the UN would work with all parties to develop a programme to support Chagossians waiting to return. The UN General Assembly motion, passed by a majority of 116-6, followed an International Court of Justice verdict which found the creation of the British Indian Ocean Territory (the official name for the Chagos Islands) to have been illegit

Chagossians to protest British High Commission

Nov 14, 2019
1 min

Chagossians to protest British High Commission

On Friday the 22 November, Chagossians will take to the streets outside the British High Commission in Port Louis, Mauritius. The protest, organised by Chagos Refugees Group, will demand Chagossians right to return to their homeland and call for the UK government to comply with the UN General Assembly vote 6 months ago, which called for the UK to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The UN General Assembly vote, carried by 116 votes to 5, set a deadline of six mon

UK Government statement on Chagos Islands

Nov 6, 2019
1 min

UK Government statement on Chagos Islands

On the final day before Parliament was dissolved, the UK government has released a new statement on the future of the Chagos Islands. The full statement can be read here. In May, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly that the UK should cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius within six months. This came after an International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict which judged UK sovereignty of the islands was not legally established by international law, due to the ma

Olivier Bancoult addresses Labour Party Conference

Oct 1, 2019
1 min

Olivier Bancoult addresses Labour Party Conference

Olivier Bancoult, leader of Chagos Refugees Group, has addressed the Labour Party Conference to speak about the Chagossian community's aspirations to return to their homeland. In his speech, which you can see here on Youtube, Mr Bancoult praises the years of support Mr Corbyn has provided for the Chagossian community and notes the wide support for Chagossian return among other UK political parties, and numerous governments across the world. The Labour Party included restorati

UK Chagossians asked for views on Support Package

Sep 25, 2019
2 min

UK Chagossians asked for views on Support Package

The UK government is asking Chagossians living in the UK for their views on two proposed uses of the £40m Support Package promised to Chagossians in 2016. The Support Package, which had the stated aim of "addressing the most pressing needs of the community" was announced in November 2016, as the UK government confirmed they would not support a Chagossian return programme or restore Chagossians right to live in their homeland. Below are the two Foreign Office proposals on how

UK MPs make trip to the Chagos Islands

Sep 14, 2019
1 min

UK MPs make trip to the Chagos Islands

Three MPs, all members of the Chagos Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), have completed a UK government supported trip to the Chagos Islands. MPs Catherine West, Daniel Kawczynski and the group's Chairperson Andrew Rosindell joined the four-day trip, which was reportedly organised at late notice.They visited Diego Garcia and other formerly populated islands including Peros Banhos. Catherine West, a long-term supporter of the Chagossian cause who formerly served as a

Pope speaks up on Chagos dispute

Sep 14, 2019
1 min

Pope speaks up on Chagos dispute

Pope Francis has intervened on the dispute over the future of the Chagos Islands, speaking after a papal trip to Mauritius. Chagossians were involved in a papal mass in Mauritius, at the request of the Vatican following discussions with Chagos Refugees Group leader Olivier Bancoult. In remarks that are being widely interpreted as urging the United Kingdom to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the Pope stated that: “It’s true that not always things that seem ‘jus

New UK Ministers take responsibility for Chagos Islands

Aug 4, 2019
3 min

New UK Ministers take responsibility for Chagos Islands

The UK's new Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now appointed a full set of Ministers, with many new faces taking up responsibilities directly related to the future of the Chagos Islands and the Chagossian people. The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson: Having served as Foreign Secretary for two years between July 2016 and July 2018, Mr Johnson has already had some experience dealing with issues around the Chagos Islands and the Chagossian people. As Foreign Secretary, he was respon