had been a part of the Seychelles since
it became a separate colony in 1909. On November 8, 1965, the United Kingdom
split Desroches from the Seychelles to become part of the newly created British
Indian Ocean Territory together with Farquhar, Aldabra and the Chagos
Archipelago, but returned it to the Seychelles with the first two. The purpose
was to allow the construction of military facilities for the mutual benefit of
the United Kingdom and the United States. On June 23, 1976, Desroches was
returned to Seychelles as a result of it attaining independence
