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Chagos sovereignty deal between UK and Mauritius stalls
The sovereignty agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius regarding the Chagos archipelago has stalled, causing concern among displaced Chagossians. Although a treaty was signed on May 22, 2025, to grant Mauritius sovereignty over the islands, it has not yet entered into force.
Opposition from US President Donald Trump is cited as a factor in the delay. The agreement would allow for the resettlement of Chagossians on islands other than Diego Garcia, which is slated to remain a military base used by the UK and the US.
Olivier Bancoult of the Chagos Refugees Group expressed that the group remains unshaken by political interference, citing the 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion and a 2021 International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea judgement as legal foundations for the return of the archipelago to Mauritius.
Entities
Chagos Archipelago · Diego Garcia · Mauritius · Olivier Bancoult · United Kingdom
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] A treaty was signed by Britain and Mauritius on May 22, 2025, regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago. haitigazette.com · trinidadtribune.com · www.aljazeera.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The treaty allows Mauritius to exercise sovereignty over the archipelago while the UK retains rights over the Diego Garcia military base. haitigazette.com · trinidadtribune.com · www.aljazeera.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The treaty has yet to enter into force due to opposition from US President Donald Trump. haitigazette.com · trinidadtribune.com · www.aljazeera.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Between 1968 and 1973, Britain removed an estimated 1,400 to 1,700 Chagossians from the islands. haitigazette.com · trinidadtribune.com · www.aljazeera.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Olivier Bancoult stated that the Chagos Refugees Group remains unshaken by interference from Donald Trump regarding the Chagos deal. haitigazette.com · trinidadtribune.com · www.aljazeera.com