Mauritius to lead ‘historic’ expedition to contested Chagos Islands

PORT LOUIS, Mauritius: The prime minister of Mauritius introduced on Monday a “historic go to” by a analysis vessel to the disputed Chagos Islands, an archipelago it claims in full however which is run by Britain.
Pravind Jugnauth advised reporters {that a} scientific vessel would set out on Tuesday to the distant islands within the Indian Ocean.
Amongst these on board will likely be Chagos islanders forcibly evicted by Britain within the Sixties and 70s to make means for a army base there.
Will probably be the primary time Mauritius has led an expedition to the long-contested islands with out requesting permission from the UK or the US, the prime minister added.
It follows a 2019 Worldwide Courtroom of Justice ruling that backed the declare by Mauritius and mentioned Britain ought to hand over management of the islands.
“It’s with nice satisfaction that I announce that Mauritius will undertake a visit to the Mauritian territory of the Chagos Archipelago, and specifically to Blenheim Reef, for a scientific examine,” mentioned Jugnauth.
“This will likely be a historic go to as a result of it’s the first time since Mauritius gained independence on March 12, 1968 that the Mauritian State… is organizing a visit to this a part of its territory in the course of the Indian Ocean with out having to hunt permission from anybody.”
The Chagos Islands have been on the heart of a decades-long dispute over Britain’s determination to separate them from Mauritius in 1965 and arrange a joint army base with the US on Diego Garcia, the biggest of the isles.
Each London and Washington had been knowledgeable as a courtesy that the mission can be conducting analysis within the space, however would keep away from Diego Garcia, mentioned Jugnauth.
The expedition would go away from the Indian Ocean island nation of Seychelles, he added.
The Mauritian everlasting consultant to the United Nations can be aboard, together with scientists and the Chagos islanders, he added.
Mauritius has fought since 1975 to return the archipelago to its territory and in 2019, the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice dominated that Britain ought to hand over management of the islands.
Later that yr, the UN Basic Meeting overwhelmingly voted in favor of a decision recognizing that “the Chagos Archipelago varieties an integral a part of the territory of Mauritius” and recommending Britain withdraw inside six months.
Britain, some 9,500 kilometers (5,900 miles) to the west from Chagos, insists the islands belong to London and has refused to depart.
It has renewed a lease settlement with the US to make use of Diego Garcia till 2036.
Diego Garcia performed a strategic function in the course of the Chilly Warfare, after which as an air base, together with in the course of the struggle in Afghanistan.
Mauritius has described their continued presence as “an unlawful administration.”