Mauritius announced Thursday it is considering legal measures to compel the United Kingdom to return the Chagos Islands, a territory under British control since 1814. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam criticized London for delaying ratification of a 2022 agreement under which the UK would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while leasing back the strategically important Diego Garcia military base for at least 99 years. Under the deal, the UK would pay Mauritius £101 million annually.
The Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, were depopulated in the 1960s and 1970s when Britain forcibly evicted around 2,000 Chagossians to make way for a U.S. military base. The United Nations has opposed the agreement, arguing that sovereignty should be restored to the displaced Chagossians, not Mauritius, and that the deal fails to acknowledge past injustices, provide full reparations, or preserve the islands’ cultural heritage. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over decolonization, strategic military interests, and the rights of displaced populations.
