Chagos Islands: UN Panel Calls on UK to Forge New Accord

A UN human rights panel has urged the UK to scrap its recent sovereignty deal with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands, claiming it fails to protect the rights of displaced Chagossians. The agreement, signed last month, will transfer control of the islands to Mauritius while allowing the UK to maintain a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island, for nearly a century. However, the agreement bars Chagossians from returning to Diego Garcia—an exclusion the panel argues violates their cultural and legal rights. The panel also questioned the adequacy of the £40m trust fund meant to support the community, calling for a renegotiated deal that ensures reparations and access to heritage sites. As Parliament debates ratification, critics argue the deal shortchanges both Chagossians and UK taxpayers, with some MPs seeking to block it entirely.

BBC