The UK High Court has cleared a major hurdle to the government’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following an early-morning legal challenge by Chagossian activists. The decision allows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to proceed with the agreement, which has sparked widespread controversy.
High Court Lifts Injunction Blocking Chagos Agreement
A last-minute injunction, issued at 02:25 BST on Thursday, temporarily halted the signing of the deal. However, Mr Justice Chamberlain overturned that order in a fresh hearing, stating there were no sufficient grounds to prevent the agreement from going forward.
A UK government spokesperson welcomed the court’s decision, calling the agreement “vital to protect the British people and our national security.”
🇲🇺 What the Deal Includes: Sovereignty, Military Base, and Billions in Aid
Under the agreement:
- The UK will hand sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.
- The UK and US will retain use of the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years.
- A £40 million support package is earmarked for resettlement, though many details remain vague.
- Taxpayer costs of the full deal are expected to run into the billions, potentially as high as £52 billion, according to critics.
Chagossian Voices: ‘Nothing in the Deal Is Good for Us’
The legal challenge was led by two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, born on Diego Garcia and forcibly removed during the 1960s and 70s. Their legal team argued:
- The Chagossians were not consulted, despite being native to the islands.
- They face possible racial discrimination in Mauritius.
- The deal provides no guaranteed right of return, especially to Diego Garcia.
“We want an iron-clad assurance that both governments will be held accountable,” said Jemmy Simon of the Chagossian Voices group.
“There is nothing in this deal that is any good for us.”
History of the Chagos Archipelago: Colonialism, Exile, and Resistance
- 1965: The UK separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before granting Mauritian independence.
- Late 1960s–1971: Islanders forcibly evicted; immigration order banned return.
- 1971–Present: UK-US base on Diego Garcia remains a strategic military site.
- 2019: UN’s top court ruled the UK’s control of the islands was unlawful.
- 2022: Talks began under the Conservative government but remained unresolved.
Global and Political Fallout: Strategic Concerns and China Tensions
While Mauritius has vowed to allow resettlement on the outer islands, Diego Garcia remains off-limits due to military interests.
Opponents of the deal argue:
- It could undermine UK-US defence cooperation.
- Mauritius’ ties to China raise geostrategic concerns.
- The £52 billion estimated cost burdens UK taxpayers.
Priti Patel (Conservative): “Labour’s Chagos surrender deal is bad for defence, bad for taxpayers, and betrays Chagossians.”
Nigel Farage (Reform UK): “This is a gift to China. Why is Starmer giving away these islands?”
UK Government Promises Oversight—but Trust Erodes
Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Minister Stephen Doughty met with Chagossian representatives Thursday. Despite reassurances, many community members expressed deep distrust in both the Mauritian government’s intentions and the UK’s willingness to enforce accountability.
A Deal Made Without the People Most Affected?
Critics argue the deal reflects a pattern of exclusion and colonial hangover, where the very people who lost everything have been marginalized again.
With legal avenues narrowing and international politics in play, the Chagossian community faces a familiar uncertainty: decisions made about them—without them.