Chagos Islands Handover Halted by UK Court Following Legal Challenge from Chagossians
LONDON – May 22, 2025
Plans by the UK government to sign a sovereignty transfer agreement handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius have been paused following a last-minute injunction issued by the UK High Court.
At 2:25 AM BST, Justice Goose granted interim relief to two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who argue that the UK has excluded Chagossians from the decision-making process about their homeland. The court order prevents the UK from taking any legally binding steps on the handover until the matter is fully reviewed.
The deal—set to be signed virtually by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mauritian officials—would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius while allowing the UK and US to maintain a joint military base on Diego Garcia for at least 99 years. The financial compensation package for Mauritius has not been publicly disclosed, though estimates suggest it could exceed £52 billion.
Chagossians Demand Inclusion and Return
The legal petitioners argue that the UK failed to consult with the Chagossian community, many of whom were forcibly removed from the islands in the 1960s and 70s to make way for the US military base. The ban on returning to Diego Garcia, the largest island, remains under both the current and proposed arrangements.
Lawyer Michael Polak, representing the petitioners, criticized the government’s lack of consultation, stating:
“This is a continuation of historic injustices. Chagossians remain the people most closely connected to the islands, and yet their voices are ignored.”
Community members like Mylene Augustin, whose father was born on Diego Garcia, welcomed the court’s intervention.
“This is our heritage. We need self-determination and inclusion in these talks,” she said.
Political Fallout and Strategic Concerns
The court’s injunction adds legal complexity to a deal that has already stirred political controversy. While international pressure—including UN rulings—supports Mauritius’ sovereignty claims, critics within the UK argue the deal undermines national security.
Defence Secretary John Healey has said the transfer is necessary to protect the future of the US-UK military base, but opposition figures strongly disagree.
Priti Patel, the Conservative shadow foreign secretary, called the agreement:
“A surrender that threatens British interests, burdens taxpayers, and disregards British Chagossians.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also slammed the proposal, questioning its legality and warning it plays into China’s geopolitical ambitions in the Indian Ocean.
What’s Next?
The High Court will reconvene today at 10:30 AM to review the case further. In parallel, Chagossian representatives are holding talks with Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty, though concerns remain about the transparency and inclusiveness of these meetings.
The Chagos Islands—geopolitically important and historically contentious—remain under UK jurisdiction for now, pending further legal decisions.
