4 Chagos Exiles Defy 50 Year Ban to Reclaim their Island Home

In a direct challenge to British maritime authority, four native islanders have successfully breached the exclusion zone surrounding the Chagos Archipelago. By landing on Île du Coin, the group aims to physically stall a controversial sovereignty transfer to Mauritius, asserting a “right of return” for the fewer than 330 original inhabitants still alive today.

The group, led by Misley Mandarin—the self-proclaimed First Minister of the Chagossian Government-in-Exile—landed on the beach at 06:52 Mauritius time on Monday, 16 February.

Accompanied by his 72-year-old father, Michel, and fellow islanders Antoine LeMettre and Guy Castel, the group issued a “Declaration of Return,” asserting their right to self-determination and British citizenship.

“We are here to stay”

Standing on the shoreline of the Indian Ocean, Mr Mandarin issued a direct challenge to the UK government.

“Time is critical for us,” he said, noting that only 322 islanders born on the Chagos Archipelago are still alive today.

“We are British Chagossians. We come from this island. And we are here to stay,” he declared, concluding his statement with “God save the King” and “God save the United States of America.”

A Political Stand Against Sovereignty Transfer

The landing is a calculated political move aimed at blocking the British government’s proposal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Mr Mandarin warned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that any attempt to forcibly remove the islanders again would forfeit his reputation as a human rights lawyer and leader.

The group further argued that handing the islands to Mauritius—which they described as an ally of China—could jeopardise the operations of the strategic US military base on Diego Garcia.

British Support and Security Warnings

The expedition was organised and funded with the help of Adam Holloway, a former British MP, army officer, and ITN journalist.

Mr Holloway, who accompanied the men, scathingly described the proposed sovereignty deal as “completely crazy” and “insane.”

“We have done this because Britain is about to make a stupid mistake,” Mr Holloway said.

He argued that the UK should not be paying billions to “corrupt Mauritian politicians” but should instead invest in British defence, stressing that Diego Garcia remains “absolutely essential to Western security” in an era of great power rivalry.

A Legacy of Hardship

For the elder members of the party, the return is deeply personal. Michel Mandarin, who was born on the islands, recalled the trauma of their initial expulsion:

• The arduous crossing to Mauritius.
• Sleeping on the floors of neighbours’ homes due to a lack of housing.
• The struggle to find work in a foreign land.

Antoine LeMettre, 67, shared similar memories of childhood poverty following their displacement.

“I used to go to the market to collect rotten vegetables from the bins to feed my family,” he said. “It wasn’t just me; all Chagossians lived through the same suffering.”

The group now calls for all Chagossians to return and “live as they did before the exile,” working together to build a future on their own soil.

At the time of reporting, there has been no official reaction from the British government regarding the breach of the exclusion zone.

Source: l’Express