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UK High Court Blocks Chagos Islands Sovereignty Transfer

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May 22, 2025
5 min read

UK High Court Blocks Chagos Islands Sovereignty Transfer

The government’s plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been brought to an abrupt halt after a last-minute injunction from the High Court. At just after 2am, Mr Justice Goose issued a court order preventing any final steps in the Chagos Islands deal and its sovereignty – just hours before the planned virtual signing ceremony between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mauritian officials.

At the heart of the ruling were two British-based Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrie Pompe, who argued that the government had failed to properly consult their community. The court agreed to temporarily block the agreement, stating that the UK must maintain jurisdiction over the British Indian Ocean Territory, which includes the Chagos Archipelago, until a full hearing takes place.

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The Chagos Islands deal, now stalled, was expected to see the UK formally cede sovereignty to Mauritius while retaining access for the UK and US to continue operating the key military base on Diego Garcia for a further 99 years. The base remains a crucial strategic asset in the region, and its future has drawn sharp political divides within Westminster.

The government has not confirmed how much UK taxpayers would be expected to contribute under the terms of the proposed agreement, but estimates suggest the cost could run into billions. Critics of the deal have called this “an extraordinary expense” and questioned whether British interests were being sidelined in favour of diplomatic gains.

The court’s injunction follows a wider conversation about the UK’s colonial legacy and its treatment of the Chagossian people. In the late 1960s and early 70s, several thousand islanders were forcibly removed from their homes to make way for the military base. An immigration order issued in 1971 barred them from returning. For decades, the community has campaigned for the right to return and for greater recognition.

Mauritius has long argued that it was forced to give up the Chagos Islands in 1965, before gaining independence. Despite the UK having purchased the islands, there is still deep controversy around how the separation was handled and what it meant for Mauritian sovereignty.

The legal case brought by the Chagossian women centres on whether the government should have sought formal consent or consultation with their community before agreeing to give away territory they still consider home. Their lawyer described the deal as another chapter in the mistreatment of the Chagossian people and accused ministers of overlooking those with the closest ties to the islands.

The political fallout has been swift. Opposition parties, particularly the Conservatives and Reform UK, have condemned the deal. Senior figures have accused the government of sacrificing national security and paying “eye-watering” sums for a deal that delivers little strategic advantage. Calls have grown for Parliament to be more actively involved in the decision-making process.

The Prime Minister’s office has so far declined to comment on the specifics of the legal challenge, citing the ongoing court case. However, a government spokesperson maintained that the proposed agreement was in the UK’s national interest and aimed to resolve a long-running dispute.

As of Thursday morning, the High Court is set to resume its hearing to determine whether the injunction will be extended or lifted. In the meantime, the future of the Chagos Islands deal remains uncertain — as do the rights of the Chagossian community, whose voices have once again shifted the course of international negotiations.

If you’re curious about how disputes over territory like the Chagos Islands are handled in international law, the British Institute of International and Comparative Law offers clear, independent insights into how sovereignty and legal frameworks work across borders.

For more updates on the Chagos Islands and further insights into global diplomacy from a UK lens, visit EyeOnLondon. We’d love to hear your views in the comments.