UK Court Blocks Chagos Islands Sovereignty Transfer to Mauritius

A UK High Court judge has issued an injunction blocking the British government from finalizing a sovereignty transfer deal of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, just hours before the agreement was set to be signed. The injunction came after legal challenges by two British nationals born on the islands, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who argue the government failed to properly consult the Chagossian people, who were forcibly removed decades ago. The proposed deal would have seen the UK cede sovereignty over the islands while maintaining a 99-year lease allowing the UK and US to continue operating the strategic military base on Diego Garcia. The UK government insists the deal is necessary to protect national security and maintain the base's functionality amid international legal pressure, including UN rulings supporting Mauritius's claim. The court has ordered the UK to maintain jurisdiction over the territory until further notice, delaying the resolution of a long-standing dispute rooted in Britain's separation of the islands from Mauritius prior to its independence. The case will be further heard in court, with uncertainties remaining about the future of the military base and resettlement plans for displaced islanders.