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A government minister has confirmed that the UK will continue with its plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius despite ongoing protests. Seema Malhotra, a Foreign Office minister, emphasized during an interview on Politics London that the agreement was intended to “secure our future” and had received approval from the UK’s allies. This decision, finalized in May 2025, involves handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while the UK leases back a strategically important military base on Diego Garcia for £101 million annually.
The Chagos archipelago, consisting of over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, forms the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). However, many Chagossians living in London and elsewhere have voiced strong opposition to the arrangement, claiming they have been excluded from discussions about the fate of their homeland. Missley Mandarin, a BIOT citizen, expressed deep frustration, stating, “It seemed like the Labour government (want to) steam ahead with the treaty without considering the most important key component of that deal, which is the Chagossians.” He went further, saying, “I’d rather die for my country than my country go to Mauritius,” highlighting the anger felt throughout the Chagossian community.
The history behind the islands is complex. The UK purchased the Chagos Islands in 1968 for £3 million and subsequently expelled the Chagossian people over the next five years to establish a military base used jointly by British and US forces. Many displaced Chagossians relocated to Mauritius, the Seychelles, and the UK. Vanessa Mandarin, another BIOT citizen, emphasized the importance of self-determination for the community: “We want the self-determination to dedicate the future of our homeland, what we want to do with our homeland. And we want the Chagossians to be first… We will be challenging until the end.”
Malhotra, who represents Feltham and Heston as a Labour MP, noted that much of the negotiation with Mauritius took place during the previous Conservative administration. She acknowledged that views within the Chagossian community vary but reiterated that the focus remains on securing the Diego Garcia base for security purposes. In contrast, Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford, labeled the deal “absolutely outrageous,” arguing that it violates the principle of self-determination for former colonies and disregards human rights by giving away territory without the consent of its displaced population. Under the terms of the agreement, Mauritius will gain sovereignty over the islands, while the UK and US will maintain the military base on Diego Garcia for an initial 99-year period
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