UK Court Blocks Chagos Islands Sovereignty Transfer in Last-Minute Ruling

On May 22, 2025, a UK High Court judge issued a last-minute injunction, blocking Prime Minister Keir Starmer from finalizing the transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The injunction came after a legal challenge filed by Bertrice Pompe, a native of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago. The proposed agreement included a 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, allowing the continued operation of a US-UK military base, which is reportedly crucial for national security but has sparked controversy due to its cost and impact on displaced Chagossians.

The injunction halts any binding actions regarding the transfer of sovereignty until further legal proceedings take place. Pompe, along with co-claimant Bernadette Dugasse, argued that the deal could undermine efforts to allow displaced Chagossians to return to their homeland. In the 1960s and 1970s, around 2,000 Chagossians were forcibly removed from the islands to make way for the military base, and the current legal challenge is part of ongoing efforts for their repatriation.

The UK government has defended the agreement, emphasizing the importance of the Diego Garcia base for national security. However, critics and international organizations argue that it is time for the islands to be returned to Mauritius, from which the UK had separated the territory before Mauritius gained independence in 1968. A future hearing is scheduled to determine the deal’s fate and whether the sovereignty transfer can proceed.