London: A United Nations panel has called on the UK government to suspend and renegotiate its recent agreement with Mauritius over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.
The panel warns that the deal fails to protect the rights of the displaced Chagossian people. Signed last month, the UK-Mauritius agreement formally transferred sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius but allowed Britain to retain its military presence on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands and the site of a joint UK-US base.
Under the deal, the UK will pay around £101 million annually for 99 years to operate the base. However, the UN-appointed experts said the agreement does not guarantee the Chagossians’ right to return to their ancestral homeland, especially Diego Garcia, from which they were forcibly removed in the 1960s and 70s to make way for the military installation.
We commend UN experts for calling out the Chagos Islands ‘deal’ for failing to uphold the rights of the Chagossian people.
This ‘deal’ should not be going ahead without self-determination respected.https://t.co/0NcNMS4bwg
— Friends of the British Overseas Territories (@BritishOverseas) June 10, 2025
“The agreement appears to be at variance with the Chagossians’ right to return and hinders their ability to access and preserve their cultural heritage,” the panel wrote in a statement.
It also criticized the £40 million trust fund meant to support the Chagossians, questioning whether it provides adequate reparations and access to cultural sites.
The UK Foreign Office responded by stating the deal had been “welcomed by international organizations including the UN Secretary-General” and that it reflected the importance of the islands to the Chagossian people. But, the panel maintained that key aspects of the agreement fall short of international human rights standards.
A privilege to meet with the Chagossian community in Parliament today as we presented a Bill to block Labour’s Chagos Surrender Deal. They’ve been ignored and betrayed by Labour – we will keep standing up for them. pic.twitter.com/tSaPzI0L4q
— Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) June 10, 2025
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel joined the criticism, calling the agreement “bad for British taxpayers and bad for the Chagossian people.” She has introduced legislation in Parliament to block the deal, arguing that the voices of Chagossians have been ignored.
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords have until July 3 to oppose the ratification of the agreement.
