By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
The UK has announced it will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, allowing displaced residents to return while retaining operational rights over the strategic Diego Garcia military base. British Foreign Minister David Lammy stated, “Today’s agreement secures this vital military base for the future,” addressing concerns over contested sovereignty and legal challenges.
The Chagos Islands, under British control since 1814, were detached from Mauritius in 1965. The UK forcibly evicted nearly 2,000 residents in the early 1970s to make way for the U.S. airbase. In 2019, the World Court ruled that Britain should relinquish control, deeming the eviction unlawful. The new agreement, supported by the U.S. and India, aims to ensure global security and prevent illegal migration routes through the Indian Ocean.
(Source: TRT Afrika)
