array:2 [
  "uid" => "33369"
  "name" => "Berny Torre"
]
Britain leaving Chagossians' wish for resettlement up to Mauritian government, MPs told | Morning Star Skip to main content
Britain leaving Chagossians' wish for resettlement up to Mauritian government, MPs told
The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, addresses the United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, Monday, Sept. 19, 2005

THE government has washed itself of British Chagossians’ right to return in its latest deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, MPs heard today.

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty faced an urgent question in the Commons over the plan after it was criticised by the new Mauritian president on Tuesday.

Forming part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, annexed from the colony of Mauritius in 1965 before independence was granted, islanders were forcibly removed to make way for US and British military interests.

Mr Doughty said Mr Ramgoolam had reiterated “his willingness to conclude a deal with the UK,” adding that it “protects the base at proportionate cost” and has been supported “across the national security architecture in the United States and by India.”

He ignored Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s call for the deal to be put to a referendum of exiled Chagossians.

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Morning Star call for advertising
More from this author
 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Britain / 31 March 2025
31 March 2025
Starmer's ‘Organised Immigration Crime Summit’ fails to find the simple solution to upend human smugglers’ business model: safe routes
A person holding an energy bill
Britain / 31 March 2025
31 March 2025
Similar stories
Chagossians attend a protest
Britain / 5 February 2025
5 February 2025
Chagossians attend a protest to respond to the British annou
Features / 10 October 2024
10 October 2024
After 60 years in exile, islanders are still pawns in a wider, geopolitical game, writes ELIZABETH MISTRY