Chagos Islands: Why has U.K. handed it over to Mauritius after 50 years?

UK signs deal handing over Chagos to Mauritius, but tensions remain

The U.K. recognized the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius’ claim to the Chagos Archipelago in an agreement signed May 22. While Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam praised the deal, it elicited mixed reactions from many Chagossians, the islands’ original inhabitants. Starting in 1968, they were displaced from the chain of islands by British colonial rulers to set up a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s largest island. For …

Chagos Islands: Why has U.K. handed it over to Mauritius after 50 years?

Mauritius wins sovereignty over Chagos Islands from UK, leasing Diego Garcia naval base, amid political and legal battles.