The saga of the Chagos Islands sovereignty halted took a jaw-dropping twist on May 22, 2025, when a British High Court judge slammed the brakes on a deal to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Just hours before Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to join a virtual signing ceremony, Mr. Justice Goose issued an injunction at 2:25 AM, stopping the UK government from finalizing the agreement. This last-minute legal action, sparked by two Chagossian women, Bertrice Pompe and Bernadette Dugasse, has thrown the carefully negotiated deal into chaos, leaving the fate of these strategic islands hanging in the balance. The decision has stirred emotions, ignited debates, and raised questions about justice, colonial legacies, and global security.
Chagos Islands Sovereignty Halted: The Legal Battle Unfolds
The injunction came after Bertrice Pompe, born on Diego Garcia and now a British citizen, argued that the deal would violate her rights and those of other Chagossians. She and Dugasse, also a native of the archipelago, claimed the UK failed to consult the Chagossian people, who were forcibly removed from their homeland in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for a US-UK military base. Their lawyer, Michael Polak, emphasized that the Chagossians deserve a say in their homeland’s future. By mid-morning, the High Court, under Mr. Justice Chamberlain, lifted the injunction, allowing the deal to proceed. Yet, this rollercoaster of events has left Chagossians and policymakers reeling, with the agreement still teetering on the edge of uncertainty.
The Chagos Archipelago, a cluster of over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, holds immense strategic value due to the Diego Garcia military base. The proposed deal would see the UK cede sovereignty to Mauritius while leasing back the base for 99 years. Critics, including Conservative shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, have called it a “surrender” that risks British security and burdens taxpayers with billions in costs—estimates range from £9 billion to £18 billion. Reform UK’s Nigel Farage even suggested the islands be handed to the US instead, citing Mauritius’s ties with China as a security threat.
Chagos Islands Sovereignty Halted: Voices of the Displaced
For the Chagossians, this is more than a geopolitical chess game—it’s personal. Jemmy Simon of Chagossian Voices slammed the deal, saying it offers “nothing” for her people. The £40 million resettlement fund promised by the UK is seen as inadequate, with no guarantee Mauritius will allow Chagossians to return to the outer islands. Many fear discrimination as British citizens without Mauritian nationality. “We want iron-clad assurances,” Simon told reporters, echoing the pain of a community uprooted decades ago. The 1965 separation of the Chagos from Mauritius, then a British colony, and the subsequent eviction of 1,500–2,000 islanders remain a raw wound, described by some as a “crime against humanity.”
The deal’s roots trace back to international pressure, including a 2019 UN court ruling that deemed the UK’s control unlawful. Negotiations began in 2022 under the Conservative government but gained momentum under Labour. Despite US approval from the Trump administration, concerns linger about Mauritius’s relationship with China, with figures like US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously warning of risks to Western interests. The agreement’s financial terms, including inflation-linked payments, have also sparked controversy, with Mauritius’s new prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, pushing for a better deal.
What’s Next for the Chagos Islands?
The lifting of the injunction means the UK and Mauritius can now sign the treaty, but the path forward is far from smooth. The Chagossians’ fight for justice continues, with calls for meaningful consultation and reparations growing louder. Protesters rallied outside the High Court, demanding transparency and a halt to what they see as a betrayal. The deal’s critics, from UK parliamentarians to Chagossian activists, argue it prioritizes geopolitics over human rights.
| Key Points in the Chagos Dispute |
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| Legal Action: High Court injunction on May 22, 2025, briefly halted the UK-Mauritius deal. |
| Chagossian Grievances: Community demands consultation and a right to return. |
| Strategic Importance: Diego Garcia hosts a critical US-UK military base. |
| Financial Cost: Deal could cost UK taxpayers £9–18 billion over 99 years. |
The Chagos Islands sovereignty halted saga is a stark reminder of the messy intersection of history, power, and human rights. As the UK navigates this delicate balance, the world watches to see if justice for the Chagossians will finally emerge from decades of exile.