UK announces surrendering sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

New Delhi, Oct 3: The United Kingdom has announced that it will surrender sovereignty of the Chagos Islands including Diego Garcia, a atoll that houses an important U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, a strategically important group of islands in the Indian Ocean, after more than 50 years of control.

Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean has always remained a very important base for US military airbases. It also supports navy ships and long-range bombers. The new agreement will allow the US to continue to operate under the new arrangement, which was a key condition for the agreement in a region experiencing rising geopolitical tensions and positioning of the US in the Indian Ocean where already India and China are expanding their strength.

The decision follows years of negotiations, and legal cases in the international court. The announcement of surrendering sovereignty is a major breakthrough for Mauritius. The agreement will see the UK transfer control of the islands to Mauritius, as reported by BBC.

As reported by BBC, a joint statement issued by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth confirmed the deal, which both sides aim to finalise as soon as possible. “The United Kingdom will agree that Mauritius is sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia,” the statement read. It also emphasised the importance of the military base’s continued operation, highlighting its vital role in regional and global security.

The deal is still subject to finalisation of a treaty but both sides have vowed to complete this as quickly as possible.

The treaty will address historical grievances and ensure the welfare of the displaced Chagossians, allowing for a resettlement program on the islands—excluding Diego Garcia. This marks a shift after years of growing diplomatic isolation for the UK, with several UN bodies ruling in favour of Mauritius and calling the Chagos Islands the “last colony in Africa.”

Mauritius has long argued that the Chagos Islands were illegally taken in exchange for the nation’s independence from the UK in 1968. The British government had made a secret deal with the U.S. to lease Diego Garcia for military use and later forcibly removed over 1,000 islanders, apologising years later but refusing to recognise Mauritius’ claims until now.

International opinion has shifted in recent years, with African nations uniting in support of Mauritius and many European nations distancing themselves from the UK’s position post-Brexit. Mauritius mounted a strong campaign at the UN and in the courts, leading to Thursday’s agreement.

While the deal is historic, opinions among the Chagos islanders remain divided. Some wish to return to their homeland, while others focus on securing their rights in the UK. The Chagos issue has also triggered debates within the UK, where some voices question the move, despite successive governments working toward this resolution.

This handover is one of the last remnants of the British Empire, as the UK continues to hold several overseas territories, including Bermuda, Gibraltar, and the Falkland Islands.

In addition to the displaced Chagos islanders, the region is home to another few dozen groups of people seeking justice: Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka. While trying to flee from the Island on boats, many Tamil Sri Lankans ended up at Diego Garcia where they have lived in refugee camps for years. These refugees, like the Chagossians, continue to demand recognition of their rights, including human rights and citizenship under British law and legal protections in Mauritius. Their plight adds another layer to the complex human rights struggles in the Indian Ocean region.