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UK government halted from finalizing Chagos Islands deal following High Court injunction
The UK government has been temporarily barred from concluding its negotiations on the Chagos Islands deal following a last-minute injunction granted by a High Court judge in the early hours of Thursday. The ruling, issued by Mr. Justice Goose at 2:25 AM BST, prevents the government from taking any conclusive or legally binding steps towards transferring sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Archipelago, to the Mauritian government.
The injunction was granted in response to legal action brought by Bertrice Pompe, a Chagossian woman who has challenged the deal on the grounds that it disregards the rights and voices of the Chagossian community, the original inhabitants of the islands. In his order, Justice Goose emphasized that the UK must maintain jurisdiction over the territory until further notice and refrain from disposing of the islands, either wholly or partially.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had been scheduled to participate in a virtual signing ceremony alongside Mauritian officials on Thursday morning to formalize the agreement. Under the proposed deal, the UK would relinquish sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease to continue operating a strategically vital military base on the archipelago.
A government spokesperson declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings but reiterated that the deal is essential for protecting British national security and interests. The High Court is set to revisit the matter in a hearing later on Thursday morning.
The legal challenge highlights longstanding tensions surrounding the Chagos Islands, where the indigenous Chagossian population was forcibly removed decades ago. Critics argue that the government’s failure to consult the Chagossians before negotiating the deal perpetuates historical injustices and marginalizes those most connected to the islands.
This injunction represents a significant procedural setback for the UK government’s plans, underscoring the complex legal and ethical dimensions involved in the transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.
