Chagos Islands Deal Under Fire: UN Calls for Reconsideration Amid Rights Concerns
Historic Transfer Raises Ethical Questions
The United Kingdom’s decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has become one of 2025’s most controversial diplomatic developments. In May 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer finalised a deal transferring the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, closing Britain’s last colonial outpost on the African continent. The agreement, however, continues to face significant opposition and criticism from multiple quarters.
The Strategic Military Dimension
The multibillion-pound agreement allows the United Kingdom to retain control of the strategically important US-UK airbase on Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease. Britain will pay £101 million ($135 million) annually as part of the package, for a total cost of £3.4 billion ($4.5 billion). The Diego Garcia military base remains critical for Western defence operations in the Indian Ocean, housing submarines, bombers, and a US Space Force facility.
UN Committee Voices Serious Concerns
In a significant development, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination stated that the deal explicitly prevents the return of the Chagossian people to their ancestral lands in Diego Garcia Island. The UN committee urged Britain and Mauritius not to ratify the deal, saying it risks perpetuating long-standing violations of Chagossians’ rights. The committee highlighted insufficient consultation with Chagossian people before negotiations, failure to provide full reparation, and lack of acknowledgement of past injustices.
The Chagossian Tragedy
Britain expelled 1,500–2,000 islanders in the late 1960s and early 1970s to lease Diego Garcia to the United States for joint military use. Many Chagossians now living in the UK oppose the deal, fearing it will further diminish their chances of returning home. Two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, brought a legal challenge, fearing it would become even harder to return once Mauritius takes control.
Political Controversy and Future Implications
The British government confirmed that the legislative process to enact the agreement has been postponed until 2026, while alternative solutions are explored. The delay reflects the complex ethical, legal, and strategic considerations surrounding this colonial-era dispute. For the Chagossian people, who have fought for six decades for their rights, the outcome remains uncertain. The international community watches closely as this historic but contentious agreement moves towards potential ratification, with the indigenous population’s right to self-determination hanging in the balance.