The United Kingdom has agreed to pay billions of rupees in compensation to Mauritius as part of a historic agreement to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, a move that comes after decades of dispute between the two nations. The compensation deal, announced by Mauritian Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Alan Ganoo, is expected to significantly bolster Mauritius’ development and strengthen its position as a leading economy in the region.
Speaking to local media, Ganoo stated, “England has agreed to pay us a compensation; it amounts to many billions of rupees.” He emphasized that the financial package would enable Mauritius to make considerable strides in development and infrastructure, helping the island nation realize its ambitions of becoming a prominent player among developing countries.
The agreement, reached on October 3, 2024, follows intense negotiations between the two countries and includes several key components aimed at addressing the long-standing grievances of both Mauritius and the displaced Chagossians. In addition to the transfer of sovereignty, the UK has committed to establishing a trust fund to support the Chagossian community, many of whom were forcibly displaced from their homeland decades ago. The trust fund will focus on initiatives that benefit this community, which has campaigned for years to return to the archipelago.
The UK will also provide a financial package that includes an indexed annual payment to Mauritius, as well as infrastructure investment aimed at supporting the country’s future growth. These payments will be made for the duration of the agreement, reflecting the UK’s commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and fostering strong bilateral relations with Mauritius.
However, one notable exception in the agreement is the continued control of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, where a joint US-UK military base is located. Under the terms of the deal, the UK will retain control of the base for an initial period of 99 years. This decision underscores the strategic importance of Diego Garcia to both the UK and the United States, particularly in terms of defense and military operations in the Indian Ocean region.
The Chagos Archipelago has been a point of contention between the UK and Mauritius since the islands were separated from Mauritian territory in 1965, prior to Mauritius gaining independence in 1968. The UK retained control of the archipelago, establishing the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and leasing Diego Garcia to the US for military purposes. Thousands of Chagossians were forcibly removed from their homes to make way for the base, sparking an ongoing human rights issue that has been at the heart of the dispute.
Mauritius has long argued that it was illegally coerced into giving up the islands in exchange for its independence, a position that was backed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2019 and later supported by the United Nations General Assembly in 2021. The ICJ ruled that the UK’s continued administration of the Chagos Islands was unlawful and urged the country to end its colonial rule over the territory.
The breakthrough in negotiations, which began in 2022, came after 13 rounds of talks between the two nations. The sovereignty handover marks a significant victory for Mauritius and the broader international community, which has increasingly called for an end to colonial legacies around the world.
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