Thu May 22 10:21:35 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The UK government’s planned deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been temporarily blocked by a High Court injunction following a last-minute challenge. The deal includes a 99-year lease for the UK and US to continue operating a strategic military base on Diego Garcia. The injunction was requested by two Chagossian women who were evicted from the islands in the 1960s. The UK government defends the deal as necessary to protect national security and maintain the base, while Mauritius seeks full sovereignty over the islands. The International Court of Justice previously recommended the UK return the Chagos Islands.

**News Article:**

**Chagos Islands Handover Blocked by UK Court Injunction**

**London, May 22, 2025** – A High Court injunction has thrown a wrench into the UK government’s plans to finalize an agreement to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The deal, which was expected to be signed today, includes a 99-year lease allowing the UK and US to maintain a strategically important military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago.

The injunction was granted following an urgent request by two Chagossian women, who were among the thousands evicted from the islands in the 1960s. The court ruled that the government must “maintain the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom over the British Indian Ocean Territory until further order.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government argues that the deal is crucial for safeguarding British national security and ensuring the continued operation of the base. The base is a key US military facility in the Asia-Pacific region, having been used during conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

However, critics point to international legal rulings questioning Britain’s ownership of the Chagos Islands. In 2019, the International Court of Justice recommended that the UK hand over the archipelago to Mauritius.

Under the proposed agreement, the UK would reportedly pay Mauritius £90 million ($111 million) annually for the lease. Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has stated that his country will continue to pursue full sovereignty over the islands.

A UK government spokesperson stated that they do not comment on ongoing legal cases, but insisted that the deal is “the right thing to protect the British people and our national security.” A further hearing is scheduled for later today to determine the future of the agreement.

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