Ramgoolam’s Stand: “My Priority is Sovereignty over Chagos, Not Financial Gain”

12th February, the question of Chagos lay heavy on the heart of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam as he delivered a stirring speech. He made it exceedingly clear that his “priority was not the financial package,” but rather “the complete sovereignty of Mauritius over the archipelago.” These poignant words echoed through the Marie Lisette Talate Chagossian Community Centre in Pointe-aux-Sables, where he was speaking at the launch of the book “Olivier Bancoult – A Cry For Freedom: The Story of Chagos.”

Ramgoolam’s remarks came at a crucial time, with the final document concerning the handover of the Chagos archipelago still awaiting approval from the Trump administration.

He revealed that the Americans wish to have a representative present during the discussions between London and Port-Louis, a request that has been granted.

Notably, former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth was also in attendance at the book launch, creating an atmosphere ripe with historical significance.

A historic agreement was reached between the United Kingdom and Mauritius on 3 October, whereby London agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius, barring Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s principal island.

The UK is intending to retain rights over Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years, underlining its strategic importance for regional and global security.

However, the political landscape in Mauritius has since transformed dramatically. Following the general elections on 10 November 2024, Jugnauth’s alliance was unceremoniously ousted.

As he took office, Ramgoolam wasted no time in initiating fresh talks with London to renegotiate certain aspects of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has resumed his presidency, and his administration has requested to review the revised terms of the accord before providing its judgement.

Also present at the book launch was Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the MMM, Paul Bérenger, who asserted that by agreeing to the return of full sovereignty to Mauritius over Chagos, the English have “definitively buried the British Indian Ocean Territories.”

He expressed confidence that the rights of the Chagossians would hold a special place in the Anglo-Mauritian agreement.

In these tumultuous times, the stakes are undeniably high, and Ramgoolam’s passionate commitment to Chagos sovereignty resonates with the hopes of many.

The struggle for recognition, restitution, and rights continues to dominate Mauritian discourse, as the nation navigates the complexities of its colonial legacy and its aspirations for the future.

Source: Defi Media