Czagos Islands. The United Kingdom returned the Archipelago in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius

The British signed a contract on the transfer of sovereignty over the Czagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. The court in London opened the way to an agreement that the British government considers necessary to ensure the security of the country.

– A moment ago I signed a contract for securing the common British-American base at Diego Garcia. This is absolutely necessary for our defense and intelligence, and therefore for the safety of the British people – said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

According to the agreement, the island of Diego Garcia, which is part of the Czagos archipelago, was returned to Mauritius, but Great Britain She leased this area for 99 years with the possibility of extending the contract. London will pay 101 million pounds a year.

Czagos is an archipelago of over 60 small, but strategically situated islands, which until 1965 were administratively related to Mauritius.

Dispute about the islands of Czagos

In connection with the plans to grant independence to Mauritius, the United Kingdom separated them, creating a separate entity called the British territory of the Indian Ocean, and because of the then negotiated agreement with the United States on the creation of a military base on Diego Garcia, the only inhabited island of the archipelago, the whole population displaced from it.

Mauritius has long argued that he was forced to give the islands of Czagos in exchange for the consent of Great Britain for his independence, but for years he failed to get any significant support for these claims.

In recent years, the situation has begun to change – Mauritius has gained the support of African countries as well as various organs UNwhich prompted the previous British government to start negotiations.

In October 2024, London agreed to recognize the sovereignty of Mauritius over the islands of Czagos, provided that Great Britain maintains a common military base with the United States on the island of Diego Garcia.

Lawsuit

The contract was originally signing on Thursday morning, but was slightly delayed due to a court claim brought by two women from Czagos. Bertrice pumps and Bernadette Dugasse accused the British government of making this “important decision without consultation” and questioned the ability of the Mauritius authorities to “act in their own interest, taking into account the bad treatment of Czagos residents.”

However, the claim was rejected by a court in London, who stated that “there should be no further temporary remedies” in connection with the contract, as it could “harm public interests and Great Britain.”

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