A last-minute High Court injunction has temporarily blocked the UK government from concluding talks on handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The injunction was granted to two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who claim the government’s decision to transfer the islands without consulting the Chagossian people is a continuation of their historical mistreatment.
The UK and Mauritius were set to sign an agreement allowing the UK to maintain a military base on the islands for 99 years in exchange for transferring sovereignty to Mauritius, with the UK expected to make significant payments to Mauritius as part of the deal.
The court will hear the case again at 10:30 on Thursday. A government spokesperson said the deal is in the UK’s national security interest, while the Mauritian Attorney General declined to comment due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
