Decolonizing the Chagos Archipelago: Historical Claims, and the Question of Maldivian Sovereignty

The Maldivian natural archipelago

The Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, was first colonized by the French on December 26, 1773, when it was used for coconut plantations (copra production)

At this time, the Maldives was under the rule of the Sultanate during the Dhiyamigili dynasty.

The question of decolonizing the Chagos Archipelago, a remote group of islands in the Indian Ocean, is steeped in complex historical, geopolitical, and legal considerations. The recent agreement signed on May 22, 2025, between the United Kingdom and Mauritius, which transfers sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the Diego Garcia military base for £101 million annually, has reignited debates about the archipelago’s historical connections, particularly its ties to the Maldives. The decolonization of the Chagos Archipelago, the implications of granting sovereignty to Mauritius, the historical claims of the Maldives, and the geopolitical motivations behind the UK’s decision, while addressing the claim that both Mauritius and the

Chagos were uninhabited and primarily used for coconut plantations before colonization.

Historical Context and the Maldivian Connection

The Chagos Archipelago, located approximately 500 kilometers south of the Maldives, has a layered history of human interaction and colonial exploitation. The Maldives, considered one of the oldest nations in the Indian Ocean with evidence of human habitation dating back over 2,500 years, has asserted historical connections to the Chagos, referred to as Foalhavahi in Dhivehi.

A document from 1561 attributed to King Hassan IX of the Maldives is cited as the earliest written claim to the Chagos, suggesting it lay within the traditional boundaries of the Maldivian archipelago. Maldivian seafarers are believed to have interacted with Chagos communities, reinforcing cultural and historical ties.

In contrast, Mauritius, which gained independence from the UK in 1968, was historically administered as a single colonial entity with the Chagos Archipelago under French and later British rule. From 1715, the French governed the Chagos as part of their Indian Ocean possessions, including Mauritius (then Isle de France). After the Napoleonic Wars, the 1814 Treaty of Paris ceded both Mauritius and the Chagos to the UK. By the late 18th century, coconut plantations were established on Chagos, workers and

foreign labor, and Maldivian descendants became the Chagossian population. While both Mauritius and the Chagos were indeed used for coconut plantations (copra), the claim that they were entirely uninhabited before colonization is inaccurate. 18th century, contradicting the UK’s historical assertion of a “non-permanent population.”

"The U.K. and ‘leaving lessons’ from the Indian Ocean" by Mohamed Nasheed discusses the United Kingdom's approach to decolonizing the Chagos Archipelago, located 500 km south of the Maldives. Nasheed, a former Maldives President and climate advocate, highlights the historical ties between the Maldives and Chagos, noting a 1560 letter claiming Chagos as part of the Maldives. He stresses the importance of marine conservation, given the depletion of Indian Ocean fish stocks, and praises the UK's decision to protect Chagos, urging indefinite maintenance of this status with regional cooperation. Key Citations

The U.K. and ‘leaving lessons’ from the Indian Ocean article in The Hindu

Peros Banhos (22 smaller islands) 5 deg 23 min 72 deg 03 min

The Maldives, one of the oldest nations in the Indian Ocean with evidence of human habitation dating back over 2,500 years, has long claimed a historical connection to the Chagos Archipelago, particularly Peros Banhos, which Maldivians call Foalhavahi. This claim is grounded in several pieces of historical evidence:

1. Ancient Maldivian Documents and Records:

   • Mohamed Nasheed has cited a document from 1561, attributed to King Hassan IX of the Maldives, as the earliest written evidence of Maldivian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Peros Banhos. This document allegedly places Foalhavahi within the traditional boundaries of the Maldivian archipelago, suggesting that the Maldives exercised influence over the region during its pre-colonial history. While the document’s specifics are not widely available in public international records, it is referenced in Maldivian historical narratives as evidence of territorial reach.

   • Maldivian oral traditions and historical chronicles, such as the Tarikh (a historical record of the Maldives), mention interactions between Maldivian

     coconut plantation and copra agriculture

     ,seafarers and communities in the Chagos, including Peros Banhos. These accounts describe the atoll as a navigational waypoint and fishing ground for Maldivians, reinforcing its inclusion in the Maldives’ maritime domain.

2. Geographical and Cultural Proximity:

   • The Chagos Archipelago, including Peros Banhos, lies approximately 500 kilometers south of the Maldives, making it a natural extension of the Maldivian archipelago’s geographic and cultural sphere. Peros Banhos, one of the largest atolls in the Chagos, shares environmental and ecological similarities with Maldivian atolls, such as coral reef structures and marine biodiversity, which supported Maldivian fishing and trading activities.

   • Historical Basis of the Claim

     Nasheed's claim is grounded in historical documents and cultural practices that link Peros Banhos to the Maldives:

     • 1560 Letter from Sultan Hassan IX: A letter written by Sultan Hassan IX of the Maldives, archived in a Portuguese archive in Lisbon, explicitly claims the seven islands of Foalhavahi (Peros Banhos) as part of the Maldives. This document, referenced in multiple sources, is a cornerstone of Nasheed's argument.

     • Maps from the 1500s: Historical maps depict Foalhavahi as the atoll south of Addu Atoll, which is part of the Maldives, reinforcing the geographical and political connection.

     • Cultural and Navigational Ties: The name "FoaLhavahi" shares linguistic similarities with FoaMulak Atoll, adjacent to Addu Atoll. Arab navigator Ahmad Ibn Majid's accounts detail navigation routes that historically connected the Maldives to Peros Banhos, indicating shared maritime practices.

     Historical Use and Expeditions

     The Maldives' practical use of Peros Banhos further supports Nasheed's claim:

     • For centuries, Maldivians conducted fishing expeditions to Peros Banhos, camping on the islands to catch, cook, smoke, and dry fish, demonstrating economic and cultural reliance.

     • In the late 1930s, the Maldives Sultan sent expeditions to the Chagos islands, including Peros Banhos, to count and mark coconut palms. The last such expedition was led by the father of Ahmed Naseem, a former Foreign Minister of the Maldives, who is of African descent, highlighting shared demographic and cultural links.

     • ey Citations

       • Nasheed: Historical evidence backs Maldives’ claim over Peros Banhos | SunOnline International

       • The U.K. and ‘leaving lessons’ from the Indian Ocean - The Hindu