UK Set to Transfer Chagos Islands to Mauritius Despite Last-Minute Legal Challenge

The British government is moving ahead with its plan to hand over control of the strategically important Chagos Islands to Mauritius — despite a last-minute legal injunction that briefly blocked the deal. The transfer is expected to be finalized this Thursday, marking a controversial chapter in a long-running dispute.

What’s Happening?

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration intends to return the islands to Mauritius while maintaining British and American control over the Diego Garcia military base located there. The base is a critical hub for UK-US military operations in the Indian Ocean.

This deal faced a legal hiccup when a High Court judge issued an injunction at 2 a.m. local time (9 p.m. ET Wednesday), temporarily halting the transfer. The injunction came after two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, challenged the deal on human rights grounds. Both women, living in the UK, oppose the government’s decision to negotiate the islands’ future without consulting the exiled Chagossian community.

Background: Why Are the Chagos Islands So Important?

The UK has controlled the Chagos Islands since 1814, detaching them from Mauritius in 1965 before Mauritius gained independence. The British government then forcibly evicted nearly 2,000 residents, relocating them to Mauritius and Seychelles to build a secretive military base on Diego Garcia, which it leases to the United States.

The base holds major strategic value, giving the US and UK a military foothold in the Indian Ocean. However, the islands have also been at the center of ethical and legal controversy for decades, especially regarding the rights of displaced Chagossians.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advised Britain to return the islands to Mauritius “as rapidly as possible,” calling for the decolonization to respect the right to self-determination. This ruling, backed overwhelmingly by the United Nations General Assembly, puts additional pressure on London.

Controversy and Concerns

The Starmer government announced the transfer plan shortly after taking office last year, framing it as a step to resolve a colonial-era dilemma. However, critics question the timing and implications.

There are significant security concerns because Mauritius relies heavily on imports from China, a country viewed with suspicion by both the UK and US. Former Conservative defense minister Grant Shapps called the plan “insane,” warning that Chinese influence near the military base could threaten sensitive operations.

“There’s a real risk of espionage,” Shapps told CNN. “You don’t want to be surrounded by potential adversaries when you have key military bases nearby.”

What Happens Next?

Despite the injunction, government lawyers pressed for the deal to move forward swiftly. A Foreign Office lawyer told the court, “We need a decision by 1 p.m. today if we are to sign today, and everybody is standing by.” They emphasized the deal’s benefits for UK and US national security.

Kim Jong Un’s fury aside, the government promised to keep Diego Garcia under secure UK-US control while returning sovereignty of the islands themselves.

Meanwhile, the Chagossian community continues to voice their pain and frustration. Bertrice Pompe shared with the BBC her longing to return: “I’d love to go back… I’d love to stay longer than one week. The UK is not my country, but I have to be here just to try to get back to where I belong.”

This move marks a crucial moment in Britain’s colonial legacy and ongoing geopolitical maneuvering. The Chagos Islands’ future—and the rights of the people who were displaced decades ago—remain at the heart of a complex story.