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UK to Transfer Sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

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UK to Transfer Sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

3 October 2024: In a landmark decision, the United Kingdom has announced it will relinquish sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, a strategically significant group of islands in the Indian Ocean, after more than fifty years. The historic agreement, finalized after extensive negotiations, will transfer control of the islands to Mauritius, including Diego Garcia, which hosts a crucial military base for the United States.

The announcement was made jointly by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Thursday, October 3, marking the end of decades of contentious discussions surrounding the islands’ future.

The ongoing presence of the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia was a pivotal element in reaching this agreement, especially amid escalating geopolitical tensions involving Western nations, India, and China.

While the deal has been reached, it still awaits the finalization of a treaty, which both nations are committed to completing expeditiously.

The joint statement emphasized that this moment is a testament to the strong relationship between the UK and Mauritius reflecting a shared commitment to peacefully resolving disputes and upholding the rule of law.

To facilitate the transition and address past grievances, the agreement includes plans for a new partnership between the UK and Mauritius.

The UK will provide financial support to Mauritius, which will feature annual payments and investments in infrastructure.

Furthermore, the Mauritian government will be able to initiate a resettlement program for Chagossians on the islands, excluding the military base at Diego Garcia, where the UK will maintain control for an initial period of 99 years.

US President Joe Biden has expressed support for the agreement, calling it a “historic” deal that exemplifies how diplomacy can help nations overcome long-standing issues to achieve peaceful and beneficial outcomes.

The Chagos Islands, particularly Diego Garcia, have long been crucial for military operations, and this strategic consideration has influenced the UK’s position regarding sovereignty.

The UK has increasingly faced international pressure to cede control of its remaining colonial holdings.

Various United Nations bodies, including its principal court and General Assembly, have overwhelmingly favored Mauritius’s claim, labeling the UK’s control of the islands as a remnant of colonialism.

Mauritius contends it was coerced into ceding the Chagos Islands during its path to independence from Britain in 1968, a move paired with an undisclosed agreement allowing the US to lease Diego Garcia as a military facility.

Repeatedly apologizing for forcibly removing over 1,000 islanders from their homes, the UK has promised to return the islands to Mauritius when no longer needed for military use.

Historically, however, the UK had denied Mauritius’s legitimate claim to the islands.

Over the decades, the Mauritian government struggled for substantial international backing, while a small number of Chagossians who had been forcibly displaced pursued legal action in UK courts.

Recently, support for Mauritius began to strengthen, particularly among African nations advocating for decolonization, further intensified by the UK’s changing international relationships after Brexit.

The negotiations for this agreement began well before Starmer’s tenure as Prime Minister but reflect a growing urgency in international relations, particularly regarding conflicts such as the situation in Ukraine.

The UK appears eager to resolve the Chagos issue to gain broader global support, particularly from African nations, amid fears of a potential resurgence of isolationist policies in the USA.

Perspectives among Chagossians are diverse; some express a desire to return to their homeland, while others are more focused on their status within the UK or prefer that their fate not be determined by external parties.

Although some opposition may arise in the UK regarding the decision, it’s important to note that both Conservative and Labour governments have sought similar outcomes over the years.

This decision holds substantial historical significance as, more than fifty years after relinquishing control over most of its expansive empire, the UK has agreed to return one of its last remaining territories.

While this handover may come reluctantly, it is achieved through peaceful and legal means.

Currently, the UK still maintains control over several overseas territories, including Anguilla, Bermuda, and the Falkland Islands, along with two sovereign base areas on Cyprus.

Source: BBC News

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