Fresh blow to Chagos deal as UK faces legal challenge

A group of indigenous Chagossian people have instructed lawyers to challenge the controversial Chagos Islands deal, in yet another blow to the government’s beleaguered agreement.

- MILLIE COOKE

The legal challenge comes as the deal faces criticism from all sides, with Donald Trump threatening to veto it, the new Mauritian government demanding further concessions from Britain, and concerns being raised by the government’s own Labour MPs.

Now, The Independent understands that Chagossian Voices, a group representing people who originate from the Chagos Islands, has sought legal advice and is willing to take the government to court over the plans. The government announced in October a deal to hand over the islands to Mauritius, which is meant to secure the future of a secretive military base on the island of Diego Garcia.

But it is understood the group wants to pursue all options to ensure the deal does not go ahead, rejecting Mauritian sovereignty over the archipelago, which is located some 1,680 kilometres northeast of the Indian Ocean nation.