UN ‘Condemns’Deal Handing Chagos Islands to Mauritius. New York, United States — The United Nations has expressed deep concern over a proposed deal between the United Kingdom and Mauritius that would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Port Louis.
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has criticized the agreement, stating that it continues the long — standing violations of the rights of the Chagossian people.
Up to 2,000 Chagossians were forcibly removed from the largest island, Diego Garcia, in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for a joint British-United States military installation. Many of these individuals were relocated to Britain, some of whom have been advocating for the right to return to their ancestral homelands.
Under the new deal, the UK would retain control of the strategic airbase on Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease, with the potential for a 40-year extension.
The UN has emphasized that the agreement explicitly bars Chagossians from returning to Diego Garcia and does not formally recognize past injustices or offer full reparations for harms suffered.
The committee has called on both the UK and Mauritius to resume negotiations with the Chagossian people and to guarantee full reparations.
In 2019, the World Court had previously urged the UK to return the islands to Mauritius, arguing that its continued separation of the islands from Mauritius violated the Chagossian people’s right to self-determination.
Regional officials confirmed that the UN’s stance reflects a broader concern about the protection of indigenous rights and the historical legacy of colonialism in the region. Further details are expected as the situation develops.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
