Mauritius has submitted revised proposals to the UK concerning the future of the Chagos Islands, signaling a fresh approach under its newly elected Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam. The changes come as Ramgoolam critiques the original agreement, which he argues falls short of benefiting Mauritius adequately.
The original deal, announced in October under former Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, proposed that the UK relinquish sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, a vital UK-US military airbase. However, the agreement faced immediate backlash in both countries and was finalized just weeks before Jugnauth lost a landslide election.
Ramgoolam, who assumed office last month, expressed reservations about the deal and promptly tasked legal experts with reviewing its terms. Speaking in the Mauritian parliament, he revealed that his government had submitted counter-proposals to ensure the agreement aligns with the nation’s long-term interests.
“During the discussions, Mauritius made clear that while it remains willing to conclude an agreement with the United Kingdom, the draft presented after the general elections does not deliver the benefits our nation rightfully expects,” Ramgoolam told MPs.
While he refrained from detailing the counter-proposals or the specific objections, Ramgoolam confirmed that the UK’s response to these revisions was received on Monday and is under review.
The UK, led by Harriet Mathews, director general for Africa, the Americas, and Overseas Territories, dispatched a delegation to Mauritius last week to further the negotiations. Mathews, alongside British High Commissioner Charlotte Pierre, met with Ramgoolam on December 11.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson expressed optimism, stating, “We remain confident the agreement serves both nations’ interests and will continue engaging with the new Mauritian government to finalize the deal. No specific timeline has been set.”
However, the deal faces political challenges in the UK, with opposition Conservative leaders calling it “disadvantageous” to Britain. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge and Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel expressed “grave concerns” in a letter to Starmer, accusing the government of flawed legal reasoning and criticizing plans to “surrender sovereignty” over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).
The Chagos Islands, referred to as the British Indian Ocean Territory by the UK, have long been a contentious issue. Mauritius has consistently argued that the archipelago was illegally separated from its territory in 1965, as a condition for gaining independence in 1968. Shortly after, the UK negotiated a secret deal with the US, leasing Diego Garcia for use as a military base.
Britain forcibly removed over 1,000 Chagossians from the islands, a move it later apologized for. Despite promises to return the islands to Mauritius when no longer needed for strategic purposes, the UK has until recently disputed Mauritius’ claim. International pressure has mounted, with United Nations bodies overwhelmingly siding with Mauritius and describing the UK’s continued claim as anachronistic colonialism.
One point of contention appears to be the lease agreement for Diego Garcia. While the publicized term was a 99-year lease, Mauritian Minister of Agro-Industry and Fisheries, Arvin Boolell, suggested it amounted to de facto ownership for 200 years. “The tenant has become the owner,” Boolell remarked, underscoring the widespread frustration within Mauritius.
The counter-proposals from Mauritius could signal a turning point in the negotiations. The Mauritian government aims to secure an agreement that prioritizes national interests while addressing the historical grievances surrounding the islands.
As both nations navigate this complex diplomatic terrain, the resolution of the Chagos dispute could mark a significant chapter in decolonization and international law. For now, the world watches closely as two nations attempt to bridge decades of division and distrust.
