UK Set to Transfer Sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius as Legal and Political Debates Intensify

The agreement includes a 99-year lease of Diego Garcia for military use, while Chagossians express concerns over exclusion from decision-making.

The UK and Mauritius announced a political agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with a 99-year leaseback of Diego Garcia for military operations.
The Chagos Islands, a strategically vital Indian Ocean territory, have housed a US military base since the 1970s, leading to decades of displacement for the Chagossian people.
Chagossians, exiled from the islands between 1967 and 1973, criticize the deal for excluding their right to self-determination and accuse the UK government of ignoring their voices.
The deal's timing has raised questions, with critics suggesting it may be expedited to avoid potential opposition from US President-elect Donald Trump, who is critical of the agreement.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces scrutiny over his connection to Philippe Sands, a lawyer representing Mauritius, with allegations of prioritizing personal ties over Chagossian interests.