Britain is planning to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a crucial UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. Two women born in the Chagos Islands are considering legal action against the British government for excluding Chagossians from discussions about their homeland’s future. The islanders were forcibly displaced in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the military base. The UK government has announced a preliminary deal with Mauritius but the plans have been stalled by concerns from the Trump administration regarding national security risks. The US considers Diego Garcia a vital platform for security operations in the region. Complications have also risen due to changes in the Mauritian government and disagreements over financial compensation for the lease of Diego Garcia. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that Britain had unlawfully detached the Chagos Islands from Mauritius. The UN has urged the UK to transfer control of the territory to Mauritius. The proposed agreement includes a resettlement fund for displaced islanders, but the details of the scheme are still unclear.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/03/17/chagossians-seek-legal-action-against-uk-over-sovereignty-deal