Major Update for Supporters!!!

Let Us Return USA!, the US support group for the exiled Chagossian people, wants to share some huge news that Chagossians are close to going home (at least to most of their islands)….

Chagossians and the world heard the news that Chagossians have awaited for decades: Chagossians can finally return home (mostly)! And they will finally receive what sounds like proper compensation.

This is an historic victory that was made possible by a global movement of supporters like you!

Unfortunately it’s an incomplete victory because Chagossians are still barred from resettling on Diego Garcia (where most trace their ancestry).

The good news came as part of a deal in which the UK and Mauritian governments, backed by the US, agreed to the UK restoring Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos islands. The UK, in turn, agreed to lease Diego Garcia from Mauritius for at least 99 years and allow the continued occupation of the US base. The UK promised a trust fund for Chagossians and an infrastructure fund that could help rebuild life in Chagos.

While the agreement is a victory for Chagossians, for the decolonization movement, and for international law, continuing to ban Chagossians from returning to live on Diego Garcia—while allowing the US military to stay--perpetuates the original crime committed against them.

Preventing Chagossians from living on Diego Garcia indeed violates the International Court of Justice’s 2019 ruling requiring the protection of Chagossians' full human rights. Barring resettlement is also unnecessary: The base occupies only part of the west side of the island. Chagossians could live on the east side without interfering with base operations, just as civilians live next to US bases worldwide (including Guantánamo Bay).

For now, the US military’s desire for total control has continued to trump Chagossians’ basic human right to live in their homeland. As Chagossians have pointed out, they were wrongly excluded from the negotiations leading to the deal.

The UK and Mauritius, however, still must finalize the deal with a treaty, and thus they have time to correct this injustice by allowing Chagossians to return to all their islands including Diego Garcia.

In other words, while Chagossians celebrate their victory, the struggle will continue to allow all Chagossians to go home….

Look out for updates on how we can pressure the US, UK, and Mauritian governments to prioritize Chagossians’ rights and meet their demands for justice!

With deep thanks for your support at this momentous time in the Chagossian struggle,

Let Us Return USA!

P.S. Please send ideas, suggestions, questions, and leads with members of Congress, the Biden administration, and media to [email protected] or to David Vine at [email protected].