A senior Mauritian official has reiterated the country's commitment to the "decolonisation" of the Chagos Archipelago, following reports that the UK government has delayed planned legislation to hand over the territory. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirmed that work on a bill to finalise an agreement with Mauritius, reached in 2022, has been paused due to the upcoming general election.
The agreement, negotiated under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government, acknowledged Mauritian sovereignty over the islands while proposing to maintain the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia under a long-term lease. The current delay means the formal transfer of sovereignty, which was not expected before 2025 at the earliest, is now on hold pending the outcome of the UK election.
Mauritius has long claimed the islands, from which it was separated by Britain in 1965. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion in 2019 stating the UK's administration was unlawful and that it should end its control. The UN General Assembly subsequently endorsed this view.
The future of the Chagossian people, who were forcibly removed by the UK between 1967 and 1973 to make way for the base, remains a central issue. While the 2022 agreement included provisions for facilitated resettlement, community representatives have expressed concerns about being sidelined in the negotiations.
