UN Human Rights Experts Urge Suspension of UK-Mauritius Chagos Deal Over Chagossian Rights

UN Experts Raise Alarm Over Chagos Agreement

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) experts have strongly criticized the recently signed agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, urging its suspension and renegotiation. The experts, including Special Rapporteurs Nicolas Levrat, K.P. Ashwini, Bernard Duhaime, and Bina D'Costa, expressed significant concerns regarding the deal's failure to adequately address the rights of the forcibly displaced Chagossian people.

The bilateral agreement, signed on May 22, 2025, aims to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, including the strategically important island of Diego Garcia, to Mauritius. However, it also stipulates that the UK will maintain control over the Diego Garcia military base under a 99-year lease, with an annual payment of £101 million to Mauritius. This arrangement has drawn scrutiny for its implications on the Chagossians, who were expelled from their homeland decades ago.

Lack of Chagossian Consultation and Right to Return

A primary concern highlighted by the UN experts is the profound lack of meaningful participation and consultation with the Chagossian community throughout the negotiation process. They stated, 'We are gravely concerned about the lack of meaningful participation… in processes that have led to the agreement.' Chagossians themselves have voiced that their views were not adequately considered, with some alleging they were 'excluded' from discussions.

Furthermore, the experts contend that the agreement fails to guarantee the Chagossians' fundamental right to return to all islands of the archipelago, including Diego Garcia. They noted that 'By maintaining a foreign military presence of the United Kingdom and the United States on Diego Garcia and preventing the Chagossian people from returning… the agreement appears to be at variance with the Chagossians' right to return.' The deal allows Mauritius to initiate a resettlement program on islands other than Diego Garcia, but does not obligate it to do so, nor does it guarantee return to the main island.

Reparations and Cultural Rights Unaddressed

The UN experts also questioned the adequacy of the proposed £40 million Trust Fund, which is intended to benefit Chagossians, stating it may not meet standards for 'effective remedy and adequate, effective, and prompt reparation.' They pointed out that the agreement currently omits crucial elements of reparations, including restitution, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition. Additionally, the deal lacks provisions to facilitate the Chagossian people's access to their ancestral cultural sites on Diego Garcia and to protect their unique cultural heritage.

The Chagossians were forcibly removed from their homes in the Chagos Archipelago between 1967 and 1973 by the UK to facilitate the establishment of a US military base on Diego Garcia. Many were exiled to Mauritius or the Seychelles, where they often faced severe hardship and poverty. The UK had initially claimed the islands had no permanent population to avoid reporting its colonial rule to the UN.

Call for Renegotiation

In light of these concerns, the UN experts have urged both the United Kingdom and Mauritius to suspend the ratification of the current agreement and to negotiate a new one. Their call emphasizes the need for a revised agreement that fully guarantees the rights of the Chagossian people, including their right to return, effective remedy, and cultural protections. The UK Foreign Office has stated that the negotiations prioritized securing the operation of the Diego Garcia base and that the agreement reflects the importance of the islands to Chagossians, with some international organizations welcoming the deal.