The Last British Colony in Africa | How Chagossians were Forced off Their Homeland

[@hamzazad5258]

I only just heard of this for the first time! People really need to know about theses people's story

[@peterdaw99]

There are some good resources out there to learn more. The novel 'An Impossible Return' by Caroline Laurent is a moving account of Chagossians expulsion from their homeland on Diego Garcia, their poverty-stricken exile on Mauritius and their fight to return. It is also a revealing condemnation of UK government policies then and now, characterised as they are by racism, dishonesty and plain inhumanity

[@hamzazad5258]

@@peterdaw99 thank you

[@tommieg5637]

This is also new to me, sad, cruel, unjust and inhumane.

[@StockyDude]

I don’t get why in the 1960’s there was a fear of Chagossians becoming an internal security threat. Nowadays there’s over a thousand Filipino contractors there who definitely don’t have security clearances, and that’s okay with the U.S. Why not just give those jobs to the Chagossians?

[@muhammadbenjuraij7734]

Because when you destroy someone’s life like the US and Britain did then their ancestors just might want to settle the score. I blame the English they terrorised my ancestors in Scotland for 1000+ years and Ireland which is now occupied and then they sent the colonised Scot’s and Irish to America and Australia to murder and evict the indigenous just as the English did to Scots and Irish and then they went on to do the same elsewhere like Palestine and then when someone fights back they’re called terrorists. I am Ashamed to be British and I’m embarrassed that my people the Scots on both sides of my parents(work that one out😊) just allowed themselves to become servants of the crown. There are Scots today and Irish who loathe and detest the English for this very reason! I nearly got my head kicked in once before I became a Muslim just because of my English accent luckily I had my tartan keyring with my clan tartan to demonstrate I was actually a Scot! Britain has caused a lot of problems in this world and a lot of people are still angry but luckily for Britain these chagossians don’t have a culture of military resistance like others do…

[@botccitizenshipcampaign2119]

It breaks our hearts to see the disgusting and disastrous effect on the good people of the Chagos Islands and their descendants. The wrongs MUST be righted; a right of return for them and their children/grandchildren is the right and proper thing for the UK, US & Mauritian governments to do. In addition, you MUST compensate them directly for their suffering. It will not fix everything, but it is a step in the right direction. Our campaign (BOTC Campaign) got involved as we were fighting for our British nationality & citizenship rights for children of descent born out-of-wedlock to British overseas territories parents. We managed to convince the government to fix our wrongs but were acutely aware that the issue of nationality & citizenship rights went way beyond just us. So we utilized our campaign to join the Chagossian groups to raise awareness and eventually helped get them added to the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 right at the last minute. We want the best for these good people, and so should everyone else-time to put to bed the last British colony mentality. Do the right things, please!

[@TehNetherlands]

Ironically, there would be no Chagossians if it wasn't for colonialism. You need to learn your history. The Chagossians were not native to the archipelago. They were brought there as slaves in the late 18th century (by the French). They lived there for about a century and a half, under French and British rule. Furthermore, they already received compensation on two separate occasions, totaling about $25m USD in 2024 equivalent, on top of receiving British citizenship. It sounds to me like you should be more worried about minorities that are far more oppressed, like the Jewlsh people for instance. More of their people have been killed by Jihadist elements over the past year than the total number of people that ever inhabited the Chagos archipelago. I could name hundreds of other historically more 'disadvantaged' minorities. Play me the world's smallest violin.

[@melcadman]

​@@TehNetherlandsUsual Zionist fascism mouthing off!

[@oceandivermu]

Why would anybody living in Mauritius want British citizenship? Cold inhospitable and corrupt. Especially a group of people who have property ownership Mauritius? The Chagossians were treated shamefully. But Britain benefitted FINANCIALLY at the expense of a Sovereign nation...previously a colony...for 50 years

[@ragingregine]

It is such a disgrace and makes me sick to my stomach. Peoples' lives don't count in some peoples' heads (in the absence of any consciousness , respect for others or heart) .... so much bad Karma for the perpetrators and their ideology, I hope will soon cause implosion of these systems....

[@outspokknn1595]

Grateful for the information

[@astridhaydon1834]

Chagossians deserve to live in peace in their islands. This is such a shocking, shameful, heart-breaking, dreadful story. It's betrayal and a scourge on the UK. Well worth watching John Pilger's film 'Stealing a Nation' if you haven't already.

[@TehNetherlands]

The Chagos archipelago never actually belonged to the Chagossians. The Chagossians were not native inhabitants. They were brought to the archipelago by the French in the late 18th century. No family inhabited the area for more than ~170 years consecutively, under both French and British rule. I say this because rebalancing the checkbook of history is an untenable process, especially given the fact that there are *far* more disadvantaged people out there than the Chagossians.

[@melcadman]

​@@TehNetherlandsA disgraceful, racist excuse!

[@DilutedH2SO4]

This video is so important for everyone to see! I first learnt about the Chagossians in Mark Thomas's book "50 things about us," and then in "Freedom Next Time" by John Pilger. I'd recommend them to anyone who has the time

[@johncalhoun9198]

There are four British territories in Africa ascension island, st. Helena, Tristan da cuhna and the British Indian Ocean territory

[@Jetchisel]

How can you say that these British territories are part of AFRICA ?? Their all in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean !!!

[@AllHope23]

@@Jetchisel plate tectonics.... Basic physical geography

[@oceandivermu]

The BIOT is part of the Sovereign territory of Mauritius. It's a made up name for the Chagos Islands and Agalega and the ocean in between. It's MAURITIUS.

[@bbpersonalpage1613]

​@Jetchisel Weren't there people living there before the British devils ?? What is your continuing pointless comments? You can't go evict people off their land . Then cry if they blow your azz up. Leave people's countries alone. Hopefully africans can take over your land and see how it feels .

[@RiyaWani-dg4mt]

How can u say Chagos as UKs last African colony ?There are another British colonies in Africa as Ascencian,St Helena,Gough island & Tristan da cunha also

[@Jetchisel]

How can you state that the Chagos Islands are part of AFRICA?? Just look at the map; these islands are directly south of India !!

[@sheikmohammadbhugalee1026]

SOUTH OF MALDIVES ALSO...AND NORTH OF MAURITIUS..ALWAYS PART OF MAURITIUS..NOT INDIA OR MALDIVES..BESIDES WE ARE THE NEAREST..

[@kiaraditmasa]

Iceland is considered part of Europe. New Caledonia is considered part of France.

[@stephenchappell7512]

it's geographically part of the Indian subcontinent

[@bbpersonalpage1613]

It's certainly isn't part of BRITISH. So what's your point ?? The planet doesn't belong to ONE RACE of people . Leave people's countries the hell alone.

[@gluebox]

Sort of like the Canary Islands and Azores Islands which are closer to African mainland yet are considered Europe. Your writing seems like you’re having a stroke because the islands are closer to Asian mainland yet belong to an African country. #getoveryourself

[@Truthseeker371]

Talk about Gaza, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Look what the UK did to Chagos people. The worst crime against humanity. They have to be brought to justice.

[@neofils]

Western hypocrisy

[@jcbw9975]

it was to build military bases nothing bad happened to then

[@wolfspiritsx5]

BS

[@MrAmhara]

St Helena is also a British colony in Africa.

[@neofils]

Chagos is illigally a British colony

[@MrAmhara]

@@neofilsBoth are on the UN decolonization list. The difference is St Helena retained its population.

[@janviljoen-rm8zs]

@@MrAmhara St Helena had no population. point. the children of every sailor passing the island are the people. they like uk tax money who else would pay their pensions hospital fess etc. same as dutch abc islands .

[@jcbw9975]

THEY ARE NOT COLONIES. LEARN PROPERLY. They are overseas with brits living there and the one is used for military base

[@Jetchisel]

HOW ON EARTH CAN YOU SERIOUSLY SAY THAT ST. HELENA IS IN AFRICA ?? IT IS A TINY ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN !!!

[@corinebontemps4405]

Sad 😔

[@SwasteeOrmerod]

The island should be returned to the people.

[@PREKESERADIO]

Sad!

[@frederiquecouture3924]

PAX.

[@christofat2704]

Illégal colony .

[@jcbw9975]

its only a military base not a colony

[@christofat2704]

@@jcbw9975 It is a colony with a military base.

[@jcbw9975]

@@christofat2704 when is it where does it say? No overseas territories is a colony they got own governments and peoples you mislead person

[@2gioituoo]

This is violation humanitarian rights, it’s very sad stealing people life, this people look beautiful people beautiful lands, be strong, This was illegally Unlawfully this corruption injustice Slavery United Kingdom 🇬🇧

[@9grand]

SHAME to the U S and U.K

[@melcadman]

Global bully boys across the world! And they have the nerve to call this 'civilising' nations! Thus speaks the voice of fascism and racism!

[@BarsonlineOrg2013]

Give the land back to the people! Stop US/Brit occupation of the Islands!

[@aleph8888]

This is just propaganda. The tide has turned against this 25 year anti-western campaign. You watch.

[@SantiagoGeffen]

It isn't the last British colony in Africa. St. Helena is the other one.

[@jcbw9975]

THEY ARE NOT COLONIES. They are not colonies they are overseas just like french department and US territories. Stop using your BS words.

[@Jetchisel]

How can you say that St. Helena is part of Africa ?? It's a tiny island in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean !!!

[@SantiagoGeffen]

@@Jetchisel dude, geographically it is part of Africa. How can you consider Chagos part of Africa when it is closer to Asia?? Besides, St. Helena is NOT in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, it's closer to the African mainland.

[@Jetchisel]

@@SantiagoGeffen Geographically St Helena Island is 1900 km west of Africa, deep in the South Atlantic Ocean and since the dawn of time Africans have never lived there. No matter what you want to believe this is the reality.

[@melcadman]

​@@jcbw9975How about you stopping being an archetypal racist?!

[@kgck15]

How many issues have the British created in this world?. Isreal is one such case.

[@CB-fz3li]

I blame Hadrian

[@kevinwuryanto2240]

Shame the British, the king, the queen, and their history!

[@jcbw9975]

be quiet. Queen had nothing to do with it and nobody should need to be shamed of their history. Look at Mongolia, Look at China, look at Poland.

[@TehNetherlands]

The Chagossians were not actually native inhabitants. They were brought to the archipelago by the French in the late 18th century. No family inhabited the area for more than ~170 years consecutively, under both French and British rule. The people who were expelled received financial compensation (~5 million USD equivalent in 1980), and all but a dozen of them signed an agreement. The ones brought to Britain received citizenship. Now, obviously I agree that the manner in which these people were forced from the island is unacceptable, especially by todays standards. However, I also think that the geopolitical importance of the military base as well as the continuity and competent management of the IO TLD far outweighs the grievances of the former inhabitants of the archipelago, who can now enjoy the vast benefits of citizenship in a first world country. The fact that they continue to seek financial compensation even over the registration fee of the .IO domain shows that these are mostly misguided attempts at rebalancing the checkbook of history. If we were to rebalance all checkbooks since the 1960's the world would be in utter chaos.

[@wrestlinganime4life288]

So basically USA military interest are above beyond the rights of people?Also you do realise that there legit violations international law ?Plus it's hypocritical. You got European complaining about migration yet somehow being of the catalyst for such crisis. If China dare to take back Taiwan cuz it was part their empire centuries ago,you would throw a tantrum

[@wrestlinganime4life288]

So basically USA military interest are above beyond the rights of people?Also you do realise that there legit violations international law ?Plus it's hypocritical. You got European complaining about migration yet somehow being of the catalyst for such crisis. If China dare to take back Taiwan cuz it was part their empire centuries ago,you would throw a tantrum

[@melcadman]

Only according to people of your unfeeling racist disposition. I thought Nürnberg had put an end to your type?

[@bbpersonalpage1613]

Go to fucking hell. You're a disgusting human being .

[@moisesrosario9716]

British about the Falkland/Malvinas : we care about the will of the islanders British about chagos : XD

[@Beansinthecench]

❤️

[@RiyaWani-dg4mt]

Chagos island territory distinctly falls under the South Asian land mass but it is wrongly called as part of Africa.Yes Mauritius is a geographically legitimate land which can be categorised Africa

[@JiggieDay]

You obviously have not seen NG lately. Unless of course you *watch* selectively.

[@RiyaWani-dg4mt]

Britain & Mauritius have reached a very formal agreement to give back the chagos to Mauritius.But it is inadequet says new Maurice govt.Britain should compensate by adequet funds for the rehabili tation of the original chagosians who lived there for centuries.The then UK govt had destroyed the habitats of the chagosian people before viving area to US military complex.UK has earned bilions of illegal money from US govt.

[@ghostagee5232]

Sega😍

[@StlouisClementMario-u7g]

The Indian Ocean cannot be Africa .

[@frederiquecouture3924]

Recorded.

[@jcbw9975]

So many ignorance and foolish people on this comment section.. This isn't a "colony" but a overseas territory just like others and the islands were for military bases to guard Indian Ocean. Brits live in St Helena because there werre no natives living there and these islands are just like French Departments and US territories.

[@Hindutashravi]

The Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia is not in Africa but in India 36°24'50.2"N 78°47'31.9"E in the Sub-continent of India and is a part of the Lakshadvipa Archipelago. and the Chagos archipelago Islands are historically a part of India and part of the Lakshadvipa Archipelago, and a façade is being perpetrated as though the Chagos is a part of the continent of Africa to subvert the fact that the Chagos Archipelago is an integral part of the Sub-continent of India and ought to have returned to the Republic of India along with the Sukhadara Dvipa in 1947 when the English were thrown out of India by the Indian National Army or the Azad Hind Fauj of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose .

[@9grand]

Too bad for you the U.N considered it part of Africa . I am Mauritian

[@9grand]

India was not even a united country before the brits darling . Stop your propaganda

[@Jetchisel]

@@9grand I'd like to see the Atlas that the UN was using. These Islands are directly south of India !!! I am Australian.

[@Jetchisel]

"when the English were thrown out of India by the Indian National Army" ??? Time to bone up on your knowledge of history !!

[@wolfspiritsx5]

BS

[@davidmiles-hanschell]

Big fish eat THE LITTLE FISH.

[@bbpersonalpage1613]

Devils 😈 bothering the angels who are gods children .

[@clementmariostlouis6686]

These people have British passport . a precious asset away from tsunami etc on these sandy atolls with a fragile eco system .; those who wanted to remained Mauritian citizens were hugely compensated . During WWII the main island were used for hydra planes . The legal papers for owning the Chagos Archipelago dated back to Napoleonic France ; it is assumed that these atoll were seized/ sold for war reparation . It is another Alaska case sold to the USA.

[@invisibleray6987]

The British Indian Ocean Territory (its correct name) is a huge nature reserve, now that status will mean nothing, as China India and Mauritius crawl all over the islands over fishing and destroying the eco system

[@TEAisok]

Technically it's know Mauritius ocean territory

[@melcadman]

Maybe so ... but how 'ecological' let alone 'fair' was British colonisation?!

[@invisibleray6987]

@@melcadman that isn't easy to answer, but I would say the good outweighed the bad

[@melcadman]

​@@invisibleray6987I've yet to see or hear any persuasive evidence that colonisation is anything but grotesquely exploitative abuse of both other people's own territory and its locals, often 'justified' by white supremacist racism That was easy!

[@RiyaWani-dg4mt]

Britain & Mauritius have reached a very formal agreement to give back the chagos to Mauritius.But it is inadequet says new Maurice govt.Britain should compensate by adequet funds for the rehabili tation of the original chagosians who lived there for centuries.The then UK govt had destroyed the habitats of the chagosian people before viving area to US military complex.UK has earned bilions of illegal money from US govt.