UK to return disputed overseas territory to African state

Mauritius had claimed that it was forced to cede the Chagos Islands in exchange for its independence from Britain

The UK has agreed to hand over ownership of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius. The cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean has been under British authority for more than 50 years.

Britain announced the decision on Thursday in a joint statement with the East African nation’s government, marking the end of negotiations and a dispute that had dragged on for decades.

Under the terms of the agreement, the British government says it will recognize Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. However, Diego Garcia, where a joint UK and US military base is located, will remain under British control.

“Both our countries are committed to the need, and will agree in the treaty, to ensure the long-term, secure and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia which plays a vital role in regional and global security,” the parties added.

The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius in 1965, three years before the African state gained independence from British rule. In 1966, Britain loaned Diego Garcia, the largest island, to the US to build a military base and then deported the 2,000 people who lived on the tropical atoll. The majority ended up in Mauritius or the Seychelles, while some went to Britain.

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In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled unanimously that the UK should cede the territory to Mauritius because its continued administration of Chagos was a “wrongful act.” In response to the international rulings, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office stated that Britain had no doubts about its sovereignty over the “British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), which has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814,” adding that Mauritius has never held authority over the BIOT and that the UK does not recognize its claim.

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The Mauritius government had claimed it was coerced into giving up the territory, which is about 2,180km from the capital, Port Louis, in exchange for its independence from the UK in 1968.

In 2022, then-Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced that the UK had begun talks with Mauritius to resolve the long-running dispute over the Chagos, which has become known as the “last British colony in Africa.” 

“Following two years of negotiation, this is a seminal moment in our relationship and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law,” the British and Mauritian sides said on Thursday while announcing the “historic” agreement.

“The treaty will address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossians. Mauritius will now be free to implement a programme of resettlement on the islands of the Chagos Archipelago, other than Diego Garcia,” they stated.

Britain says it will provide a package of financial support to Mauritius, including annual payments and infrastructure investment. It will also support Chagossians through a new trust fund, after years of criticism from organizations such as Human Rights Watch about the lack of full reparations for all displaced islanders.

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Leading British opposition figures, including Conservative security spokesman Tom Tugendhat and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, have criticized the deal, claiming it could allow China to gain a military footing in the Indian Ocean.

“Giving up the Chagos Islands is a strategic disaster. Our American allies will be furious and Beijing delighted,” Farage wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden welcomed the “historic agreement,” saying it “secures the effective operation of the joint facility on Diego Garcia into the next century.”