Minister: Chagos deal to go ahead despite protests
The UK has signed a deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back a military base.
www.bbc.comHere are the latest developments on the Chagos Islands based on recent reporting.
UK-Mauritius deal progress and parliamentary scrutiny: A UK-Mauritius agreement on sovereignty over the Chagos Islands has faced multiple parliamentary votes and debates in early 2026, with some defeats for the government in the House of Commons and ongoing discussions about the terms, including the future status of the US military base on Diego Garcia. This reflects continued political tension over decolonisation, sovereignty, and strategic interests.[6][8][9]
UN and international reactions: The deal has drawn criticism from international bodies concerned about the rights of the Chagossian community, including calls to ensure their right to return and meaningful consultation. The UN has warned about potential violations of rights if resettlement and sovereignty moves are not properly inclusive of Chagossians.[2][3]
Detailing the terms: The agreement reportedly envisages Mauritius gaining sovereignty over most of the Chagos Archipelago, while the UK would retain long-term lease and operational control of the Diego Garcia base, creating a complex sovereignty-and-access arrangement that continues to be debated by stakeholders on all sides.[3][5][8]
Local and human-rights context: Chagossian communities remain concerned about displacement history and the possibility of return, with activists and representatives urging transparency and a path toward reconciliation and resettlement options that respect their rights and cultural ties to the islands.[4][10][2]
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The UK has signed a deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back a military base.
www.bbc.comNegotiations over the future of the Chagos Archipelago will have ramifications around the globe
www.prospectmagazine.co.ukLATEST NEWS
sites.google.comA UN body expressed concerns that the agreement prevents the return of the Chagossian people
www.independent.co.ukAn agreement between the UK and Mauritian governments could see thousands of exiled Chagossians resettled again.
www.aljazeera.comThe United Kingdom announced on Thursday that agreement has been reached to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of dispute and negotiation over Britain’s last African colony.
news.un.orgPlans to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius will return to the Commons, after the House of Lords inflicted four defeats on the government.
news.sky.comAfter 50 years of struggle, Chagossians won a major victory over the most powerful governments in the world.
www.thenation.comThe US president has again spoken about the deal to hand over the Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius, saying UK should not lose control by entering a "tenuous" 100-year lease.
news.sky.com