A country which prides itself on respect for the rule of law, the UK is urged to end its governance of Chagos Islands โ€œas rapidly as possibleโ€.


First published in November 2019.


โ€œGlobalโ€ Britain, that post-Brexit paradox, is coming at the UK in surprising ways. Britain is under international pressure to give up its last African colony, the remote Chagos Islands.

But Britain doesnโ€™t recognize Mauritiusโ€™s claim over what it calls the British Indian Ocean Island Territory, and the issue continues to fester. And it comes to a head on November 22.

Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice ruled the 1965 excision of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius unlawful because it wasnโ€™t based on the free will of the people concerned.

The court advised the UK to end its governance of Chagos โ€œas rapidly as possibleโ€.

In May, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly affirmed this, setting a November 22 deadline โ€” 116 member states were in favour and six were against. (Incidentally, the US, Hungary, Israel and Australia were among the dissenters.)

And in September, Pope Francis on a visit to Mauritius said that the UK needs to respect the wishes of international institutions.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britainโ€™s Labour Party, has repeatedly said the UK should respect the international courtโ€™s opinion. Itโ€™s a throwback to the way a Labour government decided to grant full independence to India.๐Ÿ”ท



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[This piece was originally published on Medium and re-published in PMP Magazine on 18 November 2019, with the authorโ€™s consent. | The author writes in a personal capacity.]

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