AfricaNow! November 6, 2024 UK-Mauritius Agreement—Will Chagossians Return Home?

Topic and Guest: Over 50 years ago Chagossians were forcibly removed from their Indian Ocean homeland of Chagos Islands by the U.K. to clear the area for a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia Island.  In exile, Chagossians have consistently struggled to return to their native land and sought proper compensation for the destruction their lives have faced.  In early October 2024, the UK announced that it had come to an agreement with Mauritius and that the UK would hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius.  But under the agreement the UK maintains control of Diego Garcia.  Also, the agreement is subject to a treaty by the parties involved.  

David Vine joins the show to dissect the recent UK-Mauritius agreement and what it means for Chagossians who were forcibly removed from their Indian Ocean homeland of Chagos Islands by the U.K. to clear the area for a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia Island.   David Vine is a writer, collaborator, and political anthropologist and is part of the organization Let Us Return USA!  He is author of Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia.  David Vine’s latest book is The United States of War: A Global History of America's Endless Conflicts, from Columbus to the Islamic State.

MUSIC ON THE SHOW: intro--“TAKE ME HOME” BY JONATHAN BUTLER ; break--“TRUTH DON DIE” BY FEMI KUTI; sign-off--“SO CLOSE YET SO FAR AWAY” BY JIMMY DLUDLU; closing--“GALOUPE BOSAN” BY CHAGOS TAMBOUR GROUP.

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Originally broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM, Washington, DC. Tune into AfricaNow! live on WPFW 89.3 FM in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area or visit www.wpfwfm.org on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00PM (U.S. Eastern).

Photo courtesy of Chagos Refugees Group.

AfricaNow! Nov. 6, 2024 UK-Mauritius Agreement—Will Chagossians Return Home

AfricaNow! April 23, 2025 Plight of Chagossians--Update of the Mauritius-UK Agreement

Topic and Guests: David Vine contextualizes and provides updates of the Mauritius-UK agreement made in October 2024 and what it means for Chagossians who were forcibly removed from their Indian Ocean homeland of Chagos Islands by the U.K. to clear the area for a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia Island.  In early October 2024, the UK announced that it had come to an agreement with Mauritius and that the UK would hand back Chagos Islands to Mauritius.  But under the agreement the UK maintains control of Diego Garcia.  Also, the agreement is subject to a treaty by the parties involved.  David Vine is a writer, and political anthropologist and former professor of anthropology at American University.  David Vine is the author of the book Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia.

We commemorate Earth Day (April 22) and continue to commemorate National Poetry Month with a poem from our archives entitled “PRIVITIZING LIFE” by Omékongo Dibinga.  Dr. Omékongo Dibinga--motivational speaker, trilingual poet, TV talk show host, rapper, and professor of cross-cultural communication at American University.

MUSIC ON THE SHOW: intro--“NABU CORFA” BY DOROTHY ASHBY commemorating Jazz Appreciation Month; break & intro to poem--“YOU DON’T SAY” BY MELBA LISTON commemorating Jazz Appreciation Month; background of poem “PRIVITIZING LIFE” by Omékongo Dibinga--“WATER NO GET ENEMY” BY FELA KUTI; sign-off--“AFRICAN MOON” BY JONATHAN BUTLER commemorating Jazz Appreciation Month; closing--“GALOUPE BOSAN” BY CHAGOS TAMBOUR GROUP.

Support AfricaNow! and your community station WPFW at WPFW 48th Anniversary Celebration on April 25, 2025 6:30PM, at Martin's Crosswinds which is located at 7400 Greenway Center Drive, Greenbelt, MD featuring a performance by Navasha Daya and more!  More information at www.wpfwfm.org.  Thank you.

Originally broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM, Washington, DC. Tune into AfricaNow! live on WPFW 89.3 FM in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area or visit www.wpfwfm.org on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00PM (U.S. Eastern).

Photos: courtesy of Chagos Refugees Group; book cover of Island of Shame by David Vine--The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia; and book cover of The Last Colony by Philippe Sands.

New tracks tagged #Forced Removal of Chagossians