Appeal Court to Rule on Chagossian Right of Abode
The British Indian Ocean Territory appeal court will hand down its judgment on 12 November 2026 in the case of four Chagossian claimants.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Law
The British Indian Ocean Territory appeal court will hand down its judgment on 12 November 2026 on whether the March 2026 ruling in favour of four Chagossians stands. The appeal was brought by His Majesty's Commissioner against a Supreme Court judgment that quashed removal notices issued to the claimants.
Why it matters
The ruling will determine whether the claimants, who landed on the uninhabited Ile du Coin in February 2026 without a permit, can remain on the island. The outcome affects how the territory handles removal decisions involving Chagossians seeking to return to their homeland.
The appeal was heard on 15 to 17 July 2026 and the judgment is due on 12 November 2026. The March 2026 judgment stated the claimants had entered the territory illegally, and the appeal court's decision remains pending.
The players
Louis Misley Mandarin
A Chagossian claimant who set up camp on Ile du Coin with three others in February 2026 seeking to remain on the island.
His Majesty's Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory
The official representative of the British Crown in the territory, who brought the appeal against the Supreme Court judgment.
The details
Four Chagossians, including Louis Misley Mandarin, set up camp on Ile du Coin in the Peros Banhos atoll in February 2026. The territory issued removal notices on 18 February 2026, and the Supreme Court granted interim relief on 19 February to halt removals before the Chief Justice quashed the notices and Section 9 of the 2004 constitution order on 31 March 2026.
Timeline
16 February 2026: Four claimants landed on Ile du Coin without a permit.
18 February 2026: The territory issued removal notices.
31 March 2026: The Chief Justice quashed the removal notices and Section 9.
15 to 17 July 2026: The appeal was heard.
12 November 2026: The appeal court will hand down its judgment.
Legal Context
The case tests the legal authority behind Section 9 of the British Indian Ocean Territory's 2004 constitution order, which the Chief Justice quashed on 31 March 2026. The appeal court's decision will show whether that ruling holds for Chagossians seeking to return to the Chagos Islands.
The judgment will decide whether four Chagossians can remain on Ile du Coin or face removal from the uninhabited island. The outcome sets the legal framework for future removal decisions affecting Chagossians seeking to return to the territory.
The takeaway
The judgment will clarify how British Indian Ocean Territory law applies to Chagossians seeking to return to their home islands. Readers following the case should watch for the 12 November 2026 ruling.
What happens next
The appeal court will hand down its judgment on 12 November 2026, which will decide whether the March 2026 ruling in favour of the four Chagossian claimants stands.
Further reading
For broader context on legal disputes over territorial rights, explore Law.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Rio Times.
