The UK government has faced a significant setback regarding the transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, as a High Court judge issued a last-minute injunction preventing any finalization of the agreement. This legal development came shortly before Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was set to participate in a virtual signing ceremony aimed at formalizing the transfer.
Legal action by Chagossian women
At 02:25 BST, Mr. Justice Goose granted “interim relief” to two women from the Chagossian community, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who filed a case against the Foreign Office. Their lawyer, Michael Polak, stated earlier this year that the government’s efforts to transfer the islands without adequate consultation with the Chagossian people exemplified a continued lack of respect for the community’s historical ties to their homeland.
“The government’s attempt to give away the Chagossians’ homeland whilst failing to hold a formal consultation with the Chagossian people is a continuation of their terrible treatment by the authorities in the past,” Polak said.
The proposed agreement would grant Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands while permitting the UK and US to maintain military operations at the Diego Garcia base for an initial duration of 99 years. However, the specific financial implications for British taxpayers, estimated to reach billions, have yet to be disclosed by the government.
Future hearings and community response
In response to the recent court injunction, a spokesperson for the government remarked, “We do not comment on ongoing legal cases. This deal is the right thing to protect the British people and our national security.” Meanwhile, Mauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover refrained from commenting, indicating that the case was to be heard again at 10:30 on Thursday.
The injunction explicitly prohibits the UK from taking any legally binding actions regarding the potential transfer of the British Indian Ocean Territory until further notice, thereby maintaining UK jurisdiction over the territory.
Discussions involving representatives of the Chagossian community are planned with Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty, focusing on sovereignty and the government’s recent initiatives aimed at supporting the Chagossian population.
Historically, the Chagos Archipelago was separated from Mauritius in 1965, during Mauritius’ period as a British colony. The UK government’s purchase of the islands for £3 million has been contested by Mauritius, which claims it was coerced into relinquishing control in exchange for independence.
The establishment of the US military base on Diego Garcia in the late 1960s resulted in the displacement of thousands of Chagossians, a situation that continues to spark debate about the rights and recognition of descendants of this community. As Mylene Augustin, a member of the Chagossian community in the UK, expressed, the ongoing negotiations have left many feeling marginalized: “We need to have our self-determination… We need to have our rights.”
As international pressure mounts for the return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with support from the United Nations, the political landscape surrounding this issue remains contentious. Recent opposition comments highlight concerns about the implications of the proposed transfer on national security and the welfare of British Chagossians.