New Mauritian PM sends fresh Chagos proposals to UK
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Mauritius has proposed changes to a deal with the United Kingdom regarding the future of the Chagos Islands, which the country’s new Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, argues does not adequately benefit his nation. The original deal, made public in October, had the UK agreeing to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius but with a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, which hosts a vital UK-US military airbase. The agreement, finalized just before Ramgoolam’s predecessor, Pravind Jugnauth, lost the general elections, has since faced criticism, particularly from Ramgoolam’s government and opposition groups in both Mauritius and the UK.
When the agreement was first revealed, it was hailed as a milestone in UK-Mauritius relations. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Jugnauth emphasized that it marked a significant moment in resolving a long-standing dispute peacefully, in accordance with international law. The UK government also framed the deal as a safeguard for the secure operation of the military base on Diego Garcia.
However, shortly after taking office in December, Ramgoolam voiced concerns about the terms of the agreement. He instructed legal experts to review the deal, ultimately leading to new counter-proposals from his government. In a statement to the Mauritian parliament, Ramgoolam expressed that while Mauritius remained open to a final agreement, the terms presented after the elections did not meet the country’s expectations. Although he did not provide specific details about the counter-proposals, he emphasized that the nation sought a deal that better aligned with its interests.
The UK’s response to these proposals was received on Monday, and is currently under review by the Mauritian government. A high-level UK delegation, led by Harriet Mathews, Director General for Africa at the Foreign Office, visited Mauritius in early December. The delegation, which included British High Commissioner Charlotte Pierre, met with Ramgoolam to continue the negotiations.
Despite the tensions, the UK government remains optimistic that a deal will be finalized, with Sir Keir’s spokesperson stating that both sides are working together to address any concerns. However, no timeline has been set for concluding the agreement.
The controversy surrounding the deal stems, in part, from the terms of the lease on Diego Garcia. Arvin Boolell, Mauritius’ Minister for Agro-Industry and Fisheries, criticized the previous administration for agreeing to a long lease on the island, which he described as giving the UK a 200-year “ownership” of Diego Garcia. While the publicized deal stipulated a 99-year lease, Boolell’s remarks reflect concerns over the long-term implications for Mauritius.
In the UK, the Conservative Party has raised alarm about the agreement, calling it “disadvantageous to the United Kingdom.” In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, shadow defense and foreign secretaries James Cartlidge and Priti Patel expressed grave concerns over the UK’s plan to cede sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). They argue that the legal justification for the deal is flawed, and criticize the terms as unfavorable to Britain.
Mauritius has long maintained that its claim to the Chagos Islands is legitimate. The country argues that it was coerced into giving up the islands in exchange for its independence from the UK in 1968. At the time, the UK had already negotiated a secret deal with the United States, granting the US control over Diego Garcia as a military base. The UK subsequently apologized for the forced removal of over 1,000 Chagossians from the archipelago and promised to return the islands to Mauritius once they were no longer needed for military purposes.
International bodies, including the United Nations General Assembly and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), have largely sided with Mauritius in its ongoing struggle to regain sovereignty over the islands. The ICJ ruled in 2019 that the UK’s continued control of the Chagos Archipelago is illegal, and the UN has repeatedly called for the UK to return the islands to Mauritius.
While the UK has resisted Mauritius’ claims, insisting that it has no legal obligation to hand over the islands, the ongoing diplomatic pressure has led to the recent negotiations. However, the long-standing dispute over the Chagos Islands remains unresolved, and both Mauritius and the UK face significant domestic and international pressure to find a resolution that meets the needs of all parties involved.
As discussions continue, it remains unclear whether the newly proposed changes to the deal will lead to a mutually agreeable solution. Nonetheless, the ongoing negotiations highlight the complexities of balancing national interests, international law, and the strategic importance of Diego Garcia in global geopolitics.
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