Holhimadulu to Foalhavahi: Reclaiming Pre-Colonial Narratives in Chagos Decolonization Debate

Map highlighting Peros Banhos "Holhimadulu," the northernmost atoll of the Chagos Archipelago, situated 285 nautical miles south of Addu City Gan Island in the Maldives.

The Chagos Archipelago dispute represents one of the most enduring and complex legacies of colonial-era territorial maneuvering in the Indian Ocean. In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of separating the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965. This opinion, while non-binding (as advisory opinions are suggestions rather than enforceable court orders), carried significant moral and legal weight. The ICJ concluded that the decolonization of Mauritius was not lawfully completed upon its independence in 1968, due to the unlawful detachment of the Chagos Islands, and that the United Kingdom had an obligation to end its administration of the territory as rapidly as possible.

The advisory opinion stemmed from a request by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), driven by Mauritius's long-standing claim and supported by human rights groups and many member states. A UNGA resolution in 2017 sought the ICJ's guidance, amid efforts to pressure the UK. However, there was notable confusion in international support: some countries and sympathizers initially backed Mauritius under the assumption that the interests of Mauritius and the displaced Chagossians (the Indigenous inhabitants of the islands) were aligned. In reality, they were not. The Chagossians, descendants of enslaved Africans, indentured laborers and elsewhere, and others brought to work on copra plantations, were forcibly removed by the UK between the late 1960s and early 1970s to make way for a US-UK military base on Diego Garcia. Their expulsion created a distinct human rights crisis, separate from Mauritius's territorial sovereignty claim.

Recent developments highlight ongoing tensions. In 2025, the UK and Mauritius reached a bilateral agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, while allowing the UK to lease back Diego Garcia for military purposes (initially for 99 years). This deal was presented as implementing the ICJ opinion and advancing decolonization. However, a UN committee, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD),criticized it sharply in late 2025. The committee expressed deep concern that the agreement fails to safeguard the Chagossians' rights, explicitly preventing their return to ancestral lands on Diego Garcia, denying full cultural preservation, and lacking adequate consultation, reparations, or acknowledgment of past injustices. This perpetuates violations rather than resolving them.

True decolonization requires more than symbolic transfers of sovereignty or geopolitical compromises influenced by major powers. It must prioritize fair, inclusive practices that center the self-determination and human rights of affected peoples, not external strategic interests. The Chagossians' plight underscores how colonial borders and Cold War priorities displaced communities without redress.Adding another layer of complexity is the Maldives' historical assertions regarding parts of the Chagos. The Maldives has referenced longstanding connections, including proximity (the archipelago lies about 500 km south of the Maldives) and cultural ties. Some Maldivian sources claim that indigenous Maldivians, mixed with African and Asian laborers (similar to Chagossian origins), worked on copra plantations, particularly at Peros Banhos atoll, known locally as "Holhimadulu."

Historical records confirm that an annual survey team from Malé conducted inspections and counted coconut plantations in the region until the early 1900s.

Families like that of Kerafaa Kaleyfaan, who was a child during these inspections, and his father, Kerafa Alifulhu, were actively involved in these foalhavahi trips. Kerafa Alifulhu accompanied his son Mohamed Kaleyfaan on the Chagos trip, in the inspections known as ''Rukugai thahjehun''.

''Kerafa Kaleyfaanu umurun varah lah iru Kaleyfaanu Bahpa Kerafaa AliFulhu aai eku Foalhavahi ah dhiya'' Rukugai thah jahan

In a recent interview, Robert Midgley, Former No.10 Downing Street, FCDO Comms Adviser, Army Reservist, Journalist and spokesperson for the Friends of British Overseas Territories, confirmed that Maldivians are living within the Chagossian community in the Chagos Archipelago. His statement is accurate.

Further, Maldivian narratives point to pre-colonial governance, including claims that the Maldivian king Dom Manuel (Sultan Hassan IX, who converted and lived in exile) and his family exercised authority over the region for extended periods. The area, referred to as "Foalhavahi" in local terms and noted on early Portuguese maps, was a vibrant hub during the Cape Route era. The renowned Arab navigator Ibn Majid referenced related maritime features in his writings, describing oceanic spheres linking the Maldives to southern islands, including Chagos elements.

These connections to Maldivian history, backed by stuff like 16th-century letters-patents, gravestones with Dhivehi writing, and old navigation records, point to deeper local and seafaring links that go way back before European colonial times. But these ideas haven't been the main focus in international talks, which have been more about the Mauritius-UK relationship. Former President Mohamed Nasheed called the UK-Mauritius deal a "deeply misguided" move. and recent claims from the Maldives (like those from President Muizzu) stirring up discussions about maritime boundaries and sovereignty, though they don't really change the main UK-Mauritius path.

Ultimately, the Chagos saga illustrates the pitfalls of incomplete decolonization:

Advisory opinions like the ICJ's 2019 ruling highlight wrongs but lack enforcement; bilateral deals advance state interests but sideline indigenous Maldivian voices. The Maldives is a more than 6000-year-old ancient maritime country, and historical claims from neighbors like the Maldives remind us that colonial maps often ignored pre-existing ties. Genuine resolution demands prioritizing the Chagossians' right to return, reparations, and self-determination through transparent, rights-based processes, ensuring decolonization is not merely a geopolitical transaction but a restoration of justice.

Note :

''Historical records confirm that annual delegations from Malé conducted inspections and counted coconut plantations in the region until the early 1900s.

Families such as that of MasOdi Kerafaa Kaleyfaan, who experienced these inspections as a child, were actively involved in the foalhavahi trips. His father, Kerafa Alifulhu, played a significant role, and Kerafa Kaleyfaan joined him on the Chagos trip, taking part in the inspections known as ''Rukugai thahjehun''.

The historical notes mentioned above have been confirmed by President Mohamed Nasheed and Kerafa Ahmed Naseem.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Naseem