The Prime Minister of Mauritius has announced that he has ordered an independent review of a deal with the United Kingdom that would see the Chagos Islands returned to Mauritius.
Navin Ramgoolam told parliament that the findings of the review would be presented to the cabinet for consideration.
Under the deal, which has not yet been signed, the United Kingdom would hand over the islands to Mauritius while retaining Diego Garcia, home to a major base for American and British troops.
The deal was agreed in October, before Ramgoolam took power with his Coalition for Change in November elections.
During the election campaign, Ramgoolam and his allies criticized the deal as a “betrayal” by former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.
The Chagos Islands, an archipelago of about 60 islands, have been under British control since 1814.
In a 2019 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK had unlawfully divided Mauritius, leading to a UN resolution criticising London’s “colonisation” of the islands.
The deal, which paves the way for the potential return of people forcibly displaced from the islands, has been criticised by the British opposition.
The independent review ordered by Prime Minister Ramgoolam aims to shed light on the controversial deal and ensure that the interests and rights of Mauritius are fully protected in this sensitive matter.
The Chagos Islands issue therefore remains a hot topic in international news, sparking debate and questions about the political and historical implications of the UK-Mauritius deal.