Who Are the Chagossians? A People Without a Homeland

The Chagossians, also known as the Îlois, are a Creole-speaking community native to the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. For centuries, they lived in harmony with their island environment, sustaining themselves through fishing, coconut farming, and close-knit traditions.

But in the late 1960s and early '70s, everything changed. The UK and US governments agreed to turn Diego Garcia the largest island into a military base, forcibly removing every Chagossian from their homeland. Many were dumped in Mauritius and the Seychelles without resources, legal protection, or compensation. Today, their fight continues

for justice, return, and recognition.