British court halts controversial Chagos Islands sovereignty transfer

On May 22, 2025, a significant legal decision emerged from London, where a British High Court judge granted an injunction to block the United Kingdom's plan to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The court's decision arrived just hours before a virtual signing ceremony was set to formalize the agreement between the two nations. This transfer of sovereignty has been the subject of intense debate due to historical grievances stemming from British colonial rule and the eviction of the islands' original inhabitants in the late 1960s and 1970s, when the U.S. established a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands. The injunction was issued in response to a legal challenge posed by two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who argued that the agreement was made without adequate consultation with the Chagossian community, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding their rights and status. The proposed deal would have seen the U.K. retain control over Diego Garcia for at least 99 years while allowing the sovereignty of the other islands to be handed over to Mauritius, amid concerns about potential security implications given Mauritius's growing ties with China. Despite agreements reached back in 2023 and subsequent negotiations, the issue remains highly contentious, reflecting broader themes of colonial legacy and national security. The U.K. government's spokesperson emphasized the importance of the deal for protecting British national security in light of current global tensions, setting the stage for further negotiations and potential legal battles surrounding this long-standing territorial dispute.