“We remain proudly British. We believe in the rule of law, and we are committed to restoring our homeland in a way that is sustainable, peaceful, and just.”
The Chagossian people have marked a historic milestone in their decades-long struggle to return to their homeland.
Following recent legal developments of profound significance, and the peaceful return of Chagossians to the British Indian Ocean Territory, Interim First Minister Misley Mandarin has formally announced the establishment of the Chagossian Interim Government, a representative administration tasked with laying the practical, legal, and civic foundations for the restoration of Chagossian community life on the islands.
The Interim Government has been constituted to fulfil three core mandates, to support the organised and equitable resettlement of Chagossian families displaced since the 1960s and 1970s, to uphold the rule of law and ensure fair and orderly governance during this transitional period, and to safeguard the long-term protection of the islands’ unique marine and terrestrial environment.
This moment represents not only a legal and political development, but the beginning of a structured and responsible process of rebuilding a community that was unjustly displaced.
The administrative framework of the Interim Government has been designed in line with established British Overseas Territory models. Responsibility for domestic matters, including housing, infrastructure, health, environmental protection, and community welfare, will sit with the Interim Government. Defence and foreign affairs will remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom, consistent with constitutional arrangements across Overseas Territories.
Interim First Minister Misley Mandarin said:
“This is a moment of quiet determination. For generations, our people have lived with exile and loss. Today, we begin the work of rebuilding, carefully and responsibly, with respect for our history and with hope for our future.
We are not creating something new, we are restoring something that should never have been taken away. This Cabinet exists for one purpose, to allow our people to live, to rebuild, and to belong once again on our islands.
We remain proudly British. We believe in the rule of law, and we are committed to restoring our homeland in a way that is sustainable, peaceful, and just.”
Further announcements regarding Cabinet appointments and immediate policy priorities will be made in due course.
