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Political treaty on the future of the Chagos Islands between the United Kingdom and Mauritius. Photo: The island of Diego Garcia seen from a satellite.
6 min 38

Will the Chagos treaty address the wrongs of the past?

In October 2024, the United Kingdom and Mauritius suddenly announced that they had “reached a political agreement on the future” of the Chagos islands, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean from which around 2,000 Chagossians were forcibly removed in the 1960’s by the British. But many elements of the coming treaty are apparently unresolved.
By Janet H. Anderson (our correspondent in The Hague)
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Indigenous rights in Australia: the role of King Charles III of the United Kingdom and the imprint of the Commonwealth. Photo: King Charles observes a performance by an Aboriginal group.

Indigenous rights in Australia: the rôle of the Crown

Occupation of Palestine by Israel: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issues its ruling. Photo: a bulldozer operates at a construction site in Givat HaMatos, an Israeli settlement suburb of annexed east Jerusalem.

Israeli occupation of Palestine: strong reactions after ICJ ruling

A criminal complaint has been filed against Booking.com for money laundering in connection with war crimes. Photo: an accommodation offered by Booking.com on which is written “Booking.occupiedterritories”.

Is Booking.com profiting from war crimes in Palestine?

The plaque next to the

Bonaire: a history of slavery, a present of social inequalities

Hearing before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel's occupation of Palestine, February 19, 2024. Photo: Philippe Sands develops his arguments from the Palestinian side.

Palestine’s plea against occupation

International Court of Justice (ICJ): 2 questions for peace in Palestine. Photo: view of the court during the hearing of South Africa (right) against Israel (left), facing the judges. 2 question marks are embedded in screens.

Israel occupation: ICJ goes to the heart of the “political deadlock”

France-Cameroon commission - Can a commission of historians help the two countries on the road to reconciliation? Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Paul Biya speak at a press conference in Cameroon.

Colonial past: can a historians’ commission help reconcile Cameroon?

Colonialism and decolonization in Switzerland - Hans Himmelheber poses near his mask collection.

Switzerland: the art of decolonizing a country without colonies

Belgian Colonial Past - Black and white photo in which King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium are sitting on armchairs carried by Congolese in traditional dress.

Belgian colonial past: Commission fails on apology to victims

A man walks in front of works of art exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Colonial racism catches up with Amsterdam Rijksmuseum

Drawing of David Van Reybrouck

David Van Reybrouck: "The fight for decolonization can’t be detached from the fight against global warming"

Philippe Sands (international law expert)

Philippe Sands: “There is an issue of identity and race” in international justice

Black and white photo of a hospital bed (operating table type) in the 60-70s.

Denmark and Greenland confront a traumatic birth control campaign

3 Indonesian veterans (one crying) attend a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the war of independence against the Netherlands

Dutch Colonial Violence and the Missing Voices of Indonesians

Indonesian prisoners (hands on head) are escorted by Dutch soldiers

Indonesia: the Dutch no longer can see colonisation in rosy terms

Harouna Daouda Dia is interviewed at his home by 2 people

Restitutions to Senegal: "We must consult the people"

Archives of a file titled

Belgium's colonial past commission stalls

A cargo plane unloads the royal treasures at Cotonou airport (Benin)

Benin celebrates return of stolen heritage 130 years on