US EditionUK court lifts a block on Britain handing the disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius
- The UK and Mauritius signed a deal on Thursday to transfer sovereignty of the contested Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius while retaining Diego Garcia under British control.
- The agreement follows stalled negotiations since October due to a Mauritian government change and disputes over the UK’s lease payments for Diego Garcia, which hosts a crucial US military base.
- Diego Garcia, the largest island, hosts about 2,500 mostly American personnel and supports key operations in the Middle East and South Asia, with a lease back to Mauritius valued at 101 million pounds annually for at least 99 years.
- While then-President Joe Biden called the deal a 'historic agreement,' critics including Chagossian activists and UK opposition parties warned it risks security and ignores islanders' rights amid unclear resettlement plans.
- The finalized treaty ends a 60-year struggle over the islands’ status but leaves questions on displaced Chagossians' return and requires UK parliamentary approval, suggesting ongoing political and legal challenges.
84 Articles
84 Articles
Chagossian Bertrice Pompe vows 'this is not the end' after deal signed
Bertrice Pompe, a British national born in the Chagos Islands, has expressed her fury at the UK Government's deal to transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius, while vowing to continue fighting against the agreement.The deal, signed on Thursday after a judge overturned a last-minute injunction brought by Pompe herself, has sparked outrage among the Chagossian community who claim they were not consulted during negotiations.READ THE FUL…
Great Britain Delivers Islands – What's Behind the Chagos Deal
After long negotiations, the British surrender one of their overseas territories to Mauritius. However, one of the Chagos Islands is excluded from the agreement. For the government in London, their situation is "most important for Great Britain".
Mauritius: UK High Court Clears Deal to Return Chagos Islands to Mauritius
An agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands from the United Kingdom back to Mauritius has been cleared by a British court, after being blocked by a last-minute injunction, prompted by a legal challenge from exiled islanders.
Falkland Islands reaffirm right to self-determination amid Chagos sovereignty talks
The Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly issued a public statement on Thursday acknowledging the UK Government’s recent decision to move forward with a sovereignty transfer of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. The Assembly welcomed reassurances that the Falklands’ status remains unaffected.
UK, Mauritius Sign Deal over Chagos Islands After Court Ruling
The United Kingdom and Mauritius have signed an agreement on the transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The islands have been under British rule since 1814. The largest island, Diego Garcia, is home to a US-British air base. The air base at the time required the entire population of the islands to move. Some 1,500 residents were forcibly transferred to Mauritius, the Seychelles or Great Britain. The signing of the deal was delayed for seve…
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