22 August 2026 - Pa-Louis has left us! Mr LOUIS René FRANCE, ex. Chairman of the Ilois Trust Fund and the Chagossian Welfare Fund, left us on 27 July 2026 at the age of 78. Pa-Louis was born and lived on Ile BODDAM in SALOMON before he was deported to Mauritius, where he married Josianne in 1978. Together, they had three children, namely: Isabelle, Bertrand and Jean-Paul; who, together, gave him Thirteen Grand-children. They all live and work in the UK. However, as Pa-Louis’ wish was to be buried in Mauritius, the whole Chagossian Community living in Mauritius joined his family for a last farewell on Sunday, prior to his burial on 23rd August 2026. We wish all our sympathy to Pa-Louis’ wife, Josianne, as well as to his children and Grand-children.
NEWS
12th August 2026 - The tragedy of the Chagossian Community was once again exposed this evening in the presence of the Republic’s Deputy Prime-Minister, Hon. Arianne Navarre-Marie, the Bishop of Port Louis, Crd. Jean-Michaël Durhône, a number of dignitaries and the Chagossians, at large, who attended the screening of Selven Naidu’s film “Chagos – La Haye, L’Odyssée d’un Peuple” at the Marie Lisette Talate Community Centre at Pointe-aux-Sables. The fact that the giant screen was outside, in the dark and in beautiful weather, did heighten the closeness of the audience to the beaches of the Chagos. Hence, a deeper association to the trauma experienced by our brothers and sisters who they were forcibly up-rooted from their homeland in 1973. The paradox on the screen between the wavelets caressing the beach and the callous and shameful behaviour of the British Authorities back then, in 1966, were such that a profound feeling of sympathy and sadness, coupled to one of inner rage and disgust, percolated through the audience. Yet, a little candle of hope remained lit in the heart of all those present, who were clearly proud of the immense courage, determination and perseverance demonstrated all along by the Leader of the Chagos Refugee Group, Mr Olivier Bancoult and his legal team, both in Mauritius and in the UK. Well done, once again, to the CRG team who hosted this memorable event with dignity and pride!
28 July 2026 – A wonderful “AVANT-PREMIERE” hosted by LA SENTINELLE Group (L’EXPRESS) of the Documentary entitled “CHAGOS – LA HAYE, l’Odyssée d’un Peuple” by the Mauritian Film Producer, Selven Naidu. Unfortunately, this will be the only projection for the time being, as the exclusive distribution rights of this 2-hour film have been acquired by TV5-MONDE, which has not yet announced its official broadcast date. What we do know, is that it will be dubbed in 8 languages with the aim of reaching a maximum audience around the World. This film is a painful reminder of the criminal and illegal removal of an entire population from their home, their long and hard legal battle against the British Government, and their continuous wait for a hopeful return to their Homeland. This may well necessitate a cessation of the U.S. – Iran war as well as Donald Trump’s green light to the British to actualize their 22nd May 2024 AGREEMENT with Mauritius. Among other things, this will officialise Mauritius’ Sovereignty over the Chagos and allow a Re-settlement of the Chagossians; with the exception of the island of Diégo Garcia, where the U.S. will be allowed to operate their existing military base for at least the next 99 years.
VISIT by U.S. STANDFORD UNIVERSITY Delegation
8 October 2025 – Further to the very productive meetings Mr Olivier Bancoult had last week with the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's delegation, headed by Ms HARRIET MATTHEWS (the Chagos Archipelago Treaty Lead Negotiator), Olivier and the GRC hosted a most cordial and informative meeting, followed by a typical “Chagossian” dinner at GRC’s Offices at Point-aux-Sables, with a high-profile delegation from STANFORD UNIVERSITY (USA), composed of Prof. ROBERT B. DUNBAR (Geoscientist, Professor of Earth System Science - Climate Change Dynamics, Oceanography, Marine Ecology & Biogeochemistry), Prof, DAVID MUCCIARONE (a Research & Development Scientist & Engineer in the Dept. of Earth System Science in the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences), Asst. Prof. KRIS SEETHA, Associate Professor of Anthropology, specializing in Environmental Archaeology, and Phd Student MATTHEW DUNBAR. (You can Google for more info on these important guests.)
In his address, Prof. Rob DUNBAR, who has worked on coral reefs all over the World for more than 50 years, and who visited the Chagos on several occasions over the last 10 years, spoke quite emotionally of the beauty of the corals, especially in SALOMON, which he referred to as “SACRED GROUND”! As a “GIFT” to the Chagossian Community, he broke the news of the official recognition of a new type of coral which includes the word “CHAGOS” in its name. Prof DUNBAR also praised the Chagossian Community for its utmost resilience over the years and shared his willingness to assist with the “Resettlement” exercise.
As for Prof. MUCCIARONE, who also knows the Chagos very well for having worked there on three occasions between 2018 and 2022, he honoured his audience in saying that his dearest wish is to be welcomed by the Chagossians themselves when he next steps onto the Chagos Islands!
In a nutshell, we drew much encouragement from this delegation’s visit, their high interest and intimate knowledge of the Chagos’ environment and needs, their sincere offer for assistance and the general vision of a thriving Marine & Environment Academy for international students & researchers in the Chagos.
9 September 2025 - As the fiery opposition, especially from the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Dame Priti Patel, in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament to the Mauritius - UK Agreement will remain another important feature in the Chagos struggle for freedom, we have chosen to provide you for posterity's sake, the link to the FULL debate on the Question of the Second Reading of the Bill, which ended with the failure by the Conservatives to block it by a vote of 330 to 179 majority 151. (House of Commons, UK Parliament Hansard, Second Reading, Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, Volume 772: debated on Tuesday 9 September 2025).
Courtesy: www.dailymail.co.uk
On Saturday 23 August 2025, Pope Leo XIV met a 15-strong Chagos delegation headed by Mr Olivier Bancoult, leader of CRG - Chagos Refugees Group, including notable Human Rights Lawyer and long-time friend of the Chagossians, Philippe Sands, at the Vatican and strongly affirms the right of Chagossians to return to their home after an unjust exile. Pope Leo XIV refers to "A grave injustice", "a significant victory" and says "all peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, in particular the right to live on their land; and no-one can force them into exile."
Courtesy: www.dailymail.co.uk
And, our good friend, Philippe Sands to write: "Mon très cher Olivier, un petit mot pour te remercier chaleureusement pour l'honneur que tu m'as accordé d'être présent avec vous hier! Une très grande journée, pour vous et pour moi. Merci, merci, merci! Philippe". (see: The Last Colony - A Tale of Exile, Justice and Britain's Colonial Legacy", published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
On 22nd May 2025, the long-awaited AGREEMENT regarding the re-establishment of Mauritius' full sovereignty on the Chagos between the UK and Mauritius was officially SIGNED by video-conference. The next step is have this agreement ratified by the British Parliament.
EVENTS
29/06/2025 - The Chagossians "Get-Together" and REGISTRATION process in the presence of some International Guests and Journalists at Ms Lisette Talate Chagossian Community Centre at Point-aux-Sables has been a major success.
28/06/2025 - At a "Thank You" party in honour of the various overseas delegations, it was indeed a priviledge to sing the New CHAGOS NATIONAL ANTHEM!
27/06/2025 - At a meeting with the Mauritian PRIME MINISTER, a delegation consisting of Mr Olivier Bancoult and his team, as well as certain foreign participants to the International Conference, did brief the PM on the Group effort to prepare a Resettlement Plan, which the CRG will submit to him, as soon as possible.
25-26/06/2025 - The Mauritius International Conference entitled "Law and Development after Decolonization: Considering Legal Frameworks for the Chagos Islands" which was a collaborative initiative by Dentons Mauritius, the CRG-Chagos Refugees Group, Harvard Institute for Global Law and Policy, and the University of Texas Raroport Centre for Human Rights will remain a most important "MILESTONE" Event in Chagos History.
