Mauritius & Chagos History

$1814$ : Britain takes control of Mauritius and the Chagos Archipelago, establishing it as a British colony.
$1965$ : The UK detaches the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius to form the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) before Mauritius gains independence in $1968$ . This was done to allow for the construction of a joint US-UK military base.
$1966$ : UK signs agreement with USA; Diego Garcia (largest island) leased for use as a military base.

Between $1968$ and $1973$ , the entire Chagossian population, estimated at about $1,500$ to $2,000$ people, was forcibly removed from their homes on the islands, primarily to Mauritius and the Seychelles, to make way for the military base.
The displacement has led to ongoing legal battles and international pressure for the Chagossians' right of return and compensation.
The International Court of Justice ($\$ICJ $) ruled in$ 2019$$ that the UK's administration of the Chagos Archipelago was unlawful and recommended its swift decolonization. The UN General Assembly also passed a resolution in line with the ICJ's advisory opinion.

The United States continues to operate a highly strategic military base on Diego Garcia.
The sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago remains a contentious issue between the UK and Mauritius, with Mauritius asserting its claim based on historical annexation and international legal opinions.