“UK and Mauritius Close to Finalizing Chagos Islands Sovereignty Transfer Deal”
LONDON (AP) — The British government announced on Tuesday that the UK and Mauritius are in the final stages of negotiating a deal to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, a disputed UK territory that houses a significant U.S. military base. The agreement is being worked out in collaboration with the Mauritian government and has received approval from the U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump.
Tom Wells, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stated that once the treaty is finalized, it will be presented to both houses of Parliament for scrutiny and ratification. The deal involves the UK handing over control of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, with the UK then leasing back the strategically important naval and bomber base on the largest island, Diego Garcia, for a period of at least 99 years.
Despite facing criticism from the opposition Conservative Party and certain allies of Trump, the deal has progressed with Trump expressing his support during discussions with Starmer. The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius in 1965, just before Mauritius gained independence, and were renamed the British Indian Ocean Territory. The UK’s eviction of up to 2,000 islanders in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the U.S. military base has long been a point of contention.
The issue of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands has been brought to the attention of the United Nations and its highest court, urging the UK to return the islands to Mauritius. A draft deal was agreed upon in October but has faced delays due to changes in the Mauritian government and disagreements over the terms of the lease for the Diego Garcia base.
The displaced Chagossian islanders, many of whom now reside in Britain, have expressed concerns about not being consulted on the agreement. The draft deal includes provisions for a resettlement fund to assist islanders in returning to their homeland, excluding Diego Garcia. However, the specifics of these measures remain unclear.
In light of the impending transfer of sovereignty, two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who are British citizens, are seeking legal action against the UK government. They fear that it will become increasingly difficult for them to return to their birthplace once Mauritius assumes control of the islands.
