The UK government's plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining military access have encountered a last-minute legal hiccup. Early Thursday morning, Mr Justice Goose issued an injunction after two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, raised concerns regarding their exclusion from negotiations about their ancestral home. The ruling specifically bars the UK government from concluding any binding agreements concerning the British Indian Ocean Territory until further court orders are issued.
This injunction comes as the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, was expected to attend a virtual signing ceremony contributing to the UK’s commitment of billions in taxpayer funds to Mauritius. The deal would formalize the UK’s handover of the Chagos Islands, a territory acquired in controversial circumstances during Mauritius's bid for independence in 1965, while ensuring continued military access to a U.S. base on Diego Garcia.
A spokesperson for the UK government, citing respect for ongoing legal procedures, expressed their commitment to national security through the proposed arrangement. However, the issue has ignited intense debate within the Chagossian community, which is divided over the future of the islands. Many are advocating for greater recognition of their rights and a say in the negotiations, voicing their frustration about the continued marginalization of their voices.
Mylene Augustin, a member of the Chagossian diaspora in the UK, emphasized the importance of self-determination and the need for the current deal to be revised to adequately reflect the desires of the Chagossians. A meeting between the Foreign Office and Chagossian representatives has been arranged to discuss the ongoing issues regarding the territory.
The Chagos issue has evoked international scrutiny, with various global organizations, including the United Nations, supporting Mauritius's claims over the islands. As negotiations have shifted from the Conservative to the Labour government, criticisms have emerged about the implications for British defense, taxpayer costs, and the rights of displaced Chagossians. The upcoming court hearing at 10:30 BST will further address the trajectory of the negotiations and the fate of Chagos.
This injunction comes as the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, was expected to attend a virtual signing ceremony contributing to the UK’s commitment of billions in taxpayer funds to Mauritius. The deal would formalize the UK’s handover of the Chagos Islands, a territory acquired in controversial circumstances during Mauritius's bid for independence in 1965, while ensuring continued military access to a U.S. base on Diego Garcia.
A spokesperson for the UK government, citing respect for ongoing legal procedures, expressed their commitment to national security through the proposed arrangement. However, the issue has ignited intense debate within the Chagossian community, which is divided over the future of the islands. Many are advocating for greater recognition of their rights and a say in the negotiations, voicing their frustration about the continued marginalization of their voices.
Mylene Augustin, a member of the Chagossian diaspora in the UK, emphasized the importance of self-determination and the need for the current deal to be revised to adequately reflect the desires of the Chagossians. A meeting between the Foreign Office and Chagossian representatives has been arranged to discuss the ongoing issues regarding the territory.
The Chagos issue has evoked international scrutiny, with various global organizations, including the United Nations, supporting Mauritius's claims over the islands. As negotiations have shifted from the Conservative to the Labour government, criticisms have emerged about the implications for British defense, taxpayer costs, and the rights of displaced Chagossians. The upcoming court hearing at 10:30 BST will further address the trajectory of the negotiations and the fate of Chagos.
