LONDON (AP) – The governments of Britain and Mauritius have reached a tentative agreement regarding the future of the Chagos Islands, a contested archipelago located in the Indian Ocean that hosts a strategically significant U.S. military base on Diego Garcia. However, a British judge has temporarily prevented the signing of the accord.
The proposed agreement aims to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands from the United Kingdom to Mauritius, while Britain would maintain control over Diego Garcia for at least 99 years. The discussions surrounding this transfer began in October, but the deal faced delays due to the need for approval from then-U.S. President Donald Trump and subsequent changes in the Mauritius government, including disputes over financial compensation for the lease of Diego Garcia.
The Chagos Islands comprise over 60 islands and have been under British control since 1814, when they were ceded by France. After the U.K. separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius in 1965—three years prior to Mauritius gaining independence—they became known as the British Indian Ocean Territory. The U.S. military base on Diego Garcia has played a pivotal role in various military operations, and the U.S. has acknowledged its use for clandestine rendition flights in the past.
In the 1960s and 1970s, roughly 2,000 residents were forcibly removed from the islands to facilitate the construction of the Diego Garcia base, leading to significant criticism of Britain's administrative presence in the region. Both the United Nations and the International Court of Justice have called for an end to Britain's "colonial administration" and urged for a transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius.
Despite some initial agreements, the path to finalizing the treaty was complicated by political shifts in both countries. The previous government in Mauritius, which had made the deal, was ousted, and the new Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam expressed concerns about the financial implications of the accord, describing it as a “sellout.” Reports indicated the U.K. was expected to pay around £90 million ($116 million) annually for the lease of the U.S. base, although exact figures were not confirmed.
On the eve of the signing ceremony, a High Court judge issued an injunction, indicating that the U.K. must retain jurisdiction over the British Indian Ocean Territory until a further order is established. This ruling halts the transfer of sovereignty, leaving the future of the Chagos Islands uncertain.
For the displaced residents known as Chagossians, the implications of the deal are profound. An estimated 10,000 Chagossians and their descendants currently reside primarily in the U.K., Mauritius, and the Seychelles, with many expressing a desire to return to their homeland. Their exclusion from negotiations regarding the islands' future has raised doubts about their chances of repatriation. Human Rights Watch has condemned the forced displacement, labeling it as “crimes against humanity” committed by a colonial power against an Indigenous population.
The draft agreement included provisions for a resettlement fund to assist displaced islanders in returning to the islands, excluding Diego Garcia. However, the specifics of how this fund would be managed remain unclear. Two Chagossian women—Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe—challenged the transfer in British courts, contending that the deal would complicate their ability to return should Mauritius gain control.
As it stands, the future of the Chagos Islands remains in limbo due to the legal injunction, and the situation continues to unfold with significant implications for the displaced population and broader geopolitical dynamics in the region.
