A military base, a displaced people, and fears over China: Burnham's Chagos test

Bertrice Pompe was born on Diego Garcia in 1971, making her one of the last Chagossians to enter the world on an island her family would soon be forced to leave. The displacement led to painful separations, with families torn apart as some members were sent to Seychelles and others to Mauritius, often never seeing each other again.

Before Mauritius gained independence in 1968, the British government severed the Chagos Islands from the Mauritius administrative boundaries. This move created the British Indian Ocean Territory, paving the way for the removal of the entire population of the largest island, Diego Garcia, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their homes were cleared to make way for one of the most strategically vital US-British military bases globally.

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Some families, like brothers, sisters, were separated. Some went to the Seychelles, some to Mauritius … close family, brothers, sister, mother, father, separated … and they never saw each other again.

Pompe, who grew up in the Seychelles feeling like an outsider, has since become a prominent voice advocating for the Chagossian right to return. She actively opposes a 2025 agreement that would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while allowing Britain to retain a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia for billions of dollars. This deal remains a point of contention for the displaced population.

The article touches upon the complex geopolitical situation surrounding the Chagos Islands, highlighting the historical injustices faced by the Chagossian people and their ongoing struggle for repatriation and recognition. The presence of the US military base on Diego Garcia remains a central element in these discussions, intertwined with broader concerns about former colonial powers and their impact on indigenous populations.

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We were always identified as different.