The Mauritian government has said it may take legal action against the United Kingdom to force the return of the Chagos Islands, amid growing frustration over delays in concluding an agreement on the territory’s sovereignty.
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam accused London of slowing down the ratification of a deal that would transfer control of the islands to Mauritius.
Under the proposed arrangement, the UK would still maintain access to the military base on Diego Garcia by leasing it from Mauritius for at least 99 years at an annual cost of £101 million. The island hosts a major naval and bomber base operated by the United States military and is regarded as a critical strategic facility in the Indian Ocean.
Britain has administered the Chagos Islands since 1814, but the issue has remained contentious. Between the 1960s and 1970s, up to 2,000 residents were forcibly removed from the islands to make way for the military installation.
The United Nations has criticised the proposed agreement, arguing that sovereignty should be restored to the displaced Chagossian people rather than the Mauritian government. The organisation also said the deal does not sufficiently address historical injustices, offer full compensation, or guarantee the right of displaced islanders to return to their ancestral homeland on Diego Garcia.
