United Nations experts call for Starmer’s Chagos deal to be suspended
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Starmer’s Chagos deal should be halted over locals’ rights: UN experts
- UN experts have called for the suspension of Keir Starmer's deal with Mauritius regarding the Chagos Islands, citing a failure to protect the rights of Chagossians.
- The agreement, which hands sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius and leases back the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia for £101m per year for 99 years, has been criticised for not guaranteeing the rights of Chagossians to return to all islands.
- UN special rapporteurs expressed grave concerns about the lack of meaningful participation of Chagossians in the processes leading to the agreement.
- Critics estimate the 99-year lease could cost taxpayers £30bn, potentially impacting the defence budget, while Tories have tabled legislation to block the deal.
- Sir Keir and foreign secretary David Lammy argued the deal was necessary to prevent legal challenges that could jeopardise the operation of the military base.