United Kingdom to hand over sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

The United Kingdom government has signed an agreement to hand over sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, but it will keep control of the strategic military base on Diego Garcia island for the next 99 years. 

The agreement was signed between the two countries on 22 May 2025.

The Indian government has welcomed the signing of the agreement as it has consistently supported Mauritius over its claim on the Chagos Islands. 

The Mauritian Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, said that the process of decolonisation of Africa is now complete.

Chagos Islands and the history 

The Chagos Islands, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, lie in the central Indian Ocean, about 1250 miles from Mauritius.

The Chagos Islands comprise 7 atolls and around 60 islands.

The United Kingdom captured the Chagos Islands and Mauritius in 1810.

When Mauritius became independent in 1965 from the United Kingdom, the British kept the Chagos Islands.

According to the British, they paid 3 million pounds to buy the island from Mauritius, but Mauritius says they were forced to give it to the British to gain independence. 

In the 1906s, the British offered the largest island of Chagos - Diego Garcia to the United States of America to build a military base. 

All the native populations were evicted from Diego Garcia and forced to resettle in Mauritius, Seychelles and some in the United Kingdom.

Mauritius has consistently demanded the handing over the Chagos Islands to them, but the British Government refused.

In October 2024, the Mauritian government and the United Kingdom reached an agreement to transfer the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but keep the vital military base on Diego Garcia.

After the approval of the American President Donald Trump, the agreement was formally signed on 22 May 2025.

The military base on Diego Garcia is considered strategically important for the United States due to its location. The United States used it to attack Iraq and Afghanistan after the 26/11 terror attack in the United States.

Fine points of the Agreement 

• The United Kingdom will get a lease of 99 years of Diego Garcia.
• Mauritius will have sovereignty over Diego Garcia but will not resettle any population on the island.
• The United Kingdom government will pay Mauritius around 101 million pounds annually for the next 99 years.
• According to United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the military base will be used by all  Five Eyes countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

About Mauritius 

Mauritius is an African country in the Indian Ocean near the eastern African coast.

About two-thirds of the country’s population is of Indian origin.

Capital: Port Louis 

Currency: Mauritian Rupee

Prime Minister: Navin Ramgoolam