Mauritius Vows to 'Decolonise' Chagos Islands After UK Shelves Handover Legislation
Mauritius has pledged to pursue the decolonization of the Chagos Islands following the UK government's decision to shelve legislation that would have returned the islands to Mauritian control. The decision to halt the legislative process came after a lack of support from President Trump, who criticized the plan despite backing from the US State Department. The Chagos Islands, home to the joint US-UK military base Diego Garcia, have been a point of contention since the UK separated them from Mauritius in 1968. The Mauritian government, led by Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful, has expressed its determination to regain control over the territory through diplomatic and legal means. The UK had initially agreed to cede sovereignty in exchange for a long-term lease of the military base, but the plan was abandoned due to the absence of formal US approval. 
