UN Experts Call for Suspension of UK-Mauritius Chagos Islands Deal

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces intense criticism over his recent deal transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. UN experts from the Human Rights Council have condemned the agreement, stating it fails to protect the rights of the expelled Chagossian people, particularly their right to return to Diego Garcia and receive effective reparations. These experts have called for the suspension of the treaty and the negotiation of a new agreement guaranteeing full rights for the Chagossians, citing a lack of their meaningful participation in the deal's formation. Starmer's government has also been accused of ignoring concerns from the Chagossian community and moving swiftly to block legal challenges against the treaty. Opposition figures, including Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, have urged the government to halt the deal, emphasizing its negative impact on both taxpayers and the displaced islanders. Additionally, Starmer has been criticized for falsely claiming that China opposed the agreement, despite China publicly welcoming it, further fueling controversy around the deal.