The United Kingdom has formally agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, marking the culmination of decades of diplomatic pressure and legal disputes. However, the agreement stipulates that the UK and US will maintain control over Diego Garcia, a strategically vital military base, for at least 99 years. The Chagos Archipelago, home to Diego Garcia, has long been a point of contention, particularly since the forced displacement of Chagossians in the late 1960s, when the islands were separated from Mauritius during the British decolonization process. This deal is being hailed as a historic resolution that aims to rectify past injustices, while balancing geopolitical interests.
Chagossian families, who were displaced from the islands, celebrated the development. Resettlement plans, excluding Diego Garcia, are part of the agreement, along with financial support from the UK to aid in the islands’ economic development. Mauritius, after years of campaigning and winning support from international bodies, is now tasked with restoring the livelihoods of Chagossians on the outer islands. The International Court of Justice, in a 2019 advisory opinion, criticized Britain’s detachment of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, stating that it violated international law and called for the UK to end its administration swiftly.
