Bertrice Pompe, born in 1971 on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, is among the last Chagossians born on the island before her family was forced to leave. The British government detached the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before Mauritian independence in 1968, creating the British Indian Ocean Territory. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the entire population of the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago was removed to establish a strategically important US-British military base.

Pompe, now based in London, has become a prominent advocate for the Chagossian people’s right to return. She described how families were separated, with some sent to the Seychelles and others to Mauritius, often losing contact with close relatives. She also recounted feeling distinctly identified as different while growing up in the Seychelles.

Pompe opposes a 2025 agreement that would transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while allowing Britain to retain a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia for billions of dollars. This unresolved issue presents a significant challenge for Britain’s new prime minister, particularly given the base’s strategic importance and the ongoing displacement of the Chagossian people.

The situation highlights tensions involving Mauritius, Seychelles, the UK, and the US in the Indian Ocean region.

Sources

South China Morning Post World