Britain has agreed to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, resolving a long-standing colonial dispute over the UK’s last African territory.
The agreement, announced on Thursday, follows 13 rounds of negotiations that began in 2022.
It comes after international bodies, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), recognised Mauritian sovereignty claims in 2019 and 2021.
Britain forcibly expelled between 1,500 and 2,000 Chagossians in the 1960s and 1970s to establish a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, one of the islands.
The move has been described by some as a crime against humanity.
Under the new arrangement, the UK will retain control of the Diego Garcia base. UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the government had secured the future of the military installation “as well as guaranteeing our long-term relationship with Mauritius, a close Commonwealth partner”.
US President Joe Biden welcomed the agreement, calling it a “clear demonstration that … countries can overcome longstanding historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes”.
The campaign for Mauritian sovereignty included a symbolic flag-raising ceremony on the atoll of Peros Banhos in February 2022, led by the Mauritian ambassador to the UN, Jagdish Koonjul.
However, the agreement has faced criticism from some Chagossians who fear losing their distinct identity.
Chagossian Voices, a community organisation, condemned the lack of consultation, stating: “Chagossians have learned this outcome from the media and remain powerless and voiceless in determining our own future and the future of our homeland.”
Human Rights Watch has previously called for the UK to pay full reparations to those affected by the forced displacement, describing it as “an appalling colonial crime”.
The UK government said the political agreement is subject to the finalisation of a treaty and supporting legal instruments, which both sides have committed to complete swiftly.
