UK 'an illegal colonial occupier' after missing UN deadline to return Chagos islands
Britain condemned after defying UN demand to relinquish territory
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The UK has been called an illegal colonial occupier by Mauritius after failing to meet the UN deadline to return control of an overseas territory to the island nation.
Britain was given six months to return the Chagos Islands after the UN general assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn its continued occupation of the Indian Ocean territory, but the deadline passed Friday.
Mauritian prime minister Pravind Jugnauth said the UK was now an illegal colonial occupier, according to the BBC.
Mauritius, a former British colony, claims it was forced to trade the Chagos Islands in exchange for independence.
Britain purchased the islands for £3m in 1965, when Mauritius was still a colony. The archipelago is known to the UK government as the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Earlier this year, the UN general assembly voted by an overwhelming majority of 116 to six countries in favour of a motion demanding that the islands, Britain's last remaining African territory, be reunited with Mauritius.
The UN had adopted the motion on the advice of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which found that the decolonisation of Mauritius was not "lawfully completed" according to international law.
The UK does not regard the judgement of the ICJ nor the UN motion as binding.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We have no doubt about our sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory, which has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814.
"Mauritius has never held sovereignty over the archipelago and we do not recognise its claim."
The spokesperson went on to say that the territory will remain in British hands until "it is no longer needed for defence purposes."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments