Overview

• The UK has signed an agreement ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, resolving a long-standing territorial dispute.
• Under the deal, the UK retains a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, a key military base, for £101 million annually, with an option to extend.
• The High Court of London dismissed a last-minute legal challenge by two Chagossian women, clearing the way for the treaty's signature on May 22, 2025.
• The agreement follows UN and ICJ rulings declaring UK control of the islands unlawful and urging their return to Mauritius.
• Protests by displaced Chagossians continue, with demands for greater rights and inclusion in decisions regarding their ancestral lands.