Britain Tells Returning Chagos Islanders to Leave Amid Sovereignty Dispute

Published: 19 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The British government has issued a stark warning to a group of Chagos Islanders who recently returned to their homeland, telling them they must leave the islands immediately or face legal consequences, in a dramatic escalation of tensions surrounding the disputed territory’s future. This comes after four Chagossians landed on one of the remote atolls in the Indian Ocean in an attempt to establish a permanent settlement, a move described by government officials as unlawful and unsafe under current arrangements.

The group, led by activist Misley Mandarin, touched down on Île du Coin in the Chagos Archipelago, claiming they were asserting their right to return to the land from which their families were forcibly removed in the 1960s and 1970s. The British Government — which is in the process of transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under a 2025 agreement — said the landing was “illegal” and raised serious safety concerns for anyone on the uninhabited islands.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said that although the UK recognises the historical injustice suffered by the Chagossian people, the islands — apart from the strategically important Diego Garcia air base — are currently uninhabited and challenging to live on without significant infrastructure. Officials urged the returning islanders to leave immediately, warning they could be prosecuted for trespass or other offences if they remain.

The return effort has been framed by Chagossian campaigners as an act of protest against the sovereignty deal, which will see the archipelago handed over to Mauritius while allowing Britain to retain the military base on Diego Garcia under a long‑term agreement. Mr Mandarin and others argue that the settlement is being transferred without genuine consultation with the people whose ancestors lived there for generations, and that their presence demonstrates the islands are not “empty” but belong to a displaced community.

The UK‑Mauritius agreement has been controversial for years, with critics saying it fails to address the rights of the displaced Chagossians and could lock them out of lands they were forced to leave six decades ago. A United Nations body has also urged both governments not to ratify the treaty, warning it may perpetuate violations of the islanders’ rights and leave their cultural heritage unprotected.

As diplomats prepare for further discussion of the islands’ legal status and long‑term governance, the immediate standoff between returning Chagossians and British officials highlights how unresolved grievances from the past continue to shape one of the UK’s most sensitive overseas territory disputes.

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