On Thursday, October 3, 2024, di United Kingdom announce say dem go cede sovereignty of di strategically important Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Dis decision come after decades of hectic negotiations between di two countries.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy say di deal settle di contested sovereignty of Britain’s last overseas territory in Africa, while securing di long-term future of di Diego Garcia military base, which UK and US dey jointly operate. Di Chagos archipelago, wey consist of 58 islands, dey located roughly 500 km to di south of di Maldives archipelago in di Indian Ocean.
Di history of di islands show say dem bin uninhabited until di late 18th century when French bring in slave labour from Africa and India to work in coconut plantations. In 1814, France cede di islands to di British. In 1965, UK constitute di British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), of which Chagos Islands be part. When Mauritius gain independence in 1968, Chagos remain with Britain.
Di UK government give Mauritius a grant of 3 million pounds over di “detachment” of di Chagos archipelago. Di strategic location of di islands be why Britain retain sovereignty over dem. In 1966, Britain sign agreement with US to make BIOT available for defence needs. Land was acquired in 1967, and four years later, di plantation on Diego Garcia — di largest in di archipelago — was shut down.
Di BIOT administration then enact Immigration Ordinance, which make it unlawful for person to enter or remain in Diego Garcia without permit, and enable di removal of those who remain on di island. Around 2,000 civilians were subsequently kicked out — an issue wey has been central to di dispute between UK and Mauritius. Diego Garcia become fully operational military base in 1986.
Mauritius long claim say UK illegally occupy Chagos, and raise di matter many times in international fora. In 2017, UN General Assembly vote to ask International Court of Justice to examine di legal status of di Chagos archipelago. Two years later, UNGA adopt resolution welcoming ICJ advisory opinion, demanding that UK “unconditionally withdraw its colonial administration from di area within six months”.
Di agreement between UK and Mauritius strike balance. UK cede claims over di islands, and Mauritius now “free to implement programme of resettlement on di islands of di Chagos Archipelago, other than Diego Garcia”. UK also promise to create new trust fund “for di benefit of Chagossians”. However, di agreement allow Diego Garcia base to remain operational for an “initial period” of 99 years. UK will continue to exercise sovereign rights over di island.
