EPAPope Leo XIV has said that he is “happy”, Britain has agreed to hand over the island of Chagos to Mauritius.
Speaking to a delegation of 15 refugees from Chagos, Pope Leo said the move represented a “important victory” in his long battle to “repair a serious injustice”.
Under the conditions of A treaty signed in MayMauritius will achieve the sovereignty of the islands from the UK, but allows the US and Britain to continue operating a military base on one of Diego Garcia, one of the Diego Garcia, for the initial period of 99 years.
The Pope said that he hoped that Mauritius officials will ensure that the refugees are able to return home. UK opposition leader – and some Chagosians are now residents of the UK – criticized the deal.
Speaking in French, Pope Leo said: “The new possibility of your return to your original archipelago is an encouraging signal and a powerful symbol on the international platform.”
He said that all people should “be honored by powerful in their identity and rights, especially the right to live on their land; and no one can force them into exile”.
The UK bought the islands for £ 3m in 1968, but Mauritius argued that it was forced to remove the islands illegally to gain independence from Britain.
The islands were then approved to make way for the base of a UK-US armed forces, with large groups of Chagosians to Mauritius and Seychelles, or took an invitation to settle in England, mainly in Croly, West Sussex.
In May, the government said it would pay Mauritius to an average of £ 101m per year for 99 years under the terms of the agreement.
The deal sets up 24-mile buffer around Diego Garcia, where nothing can be made without the UK consent.
Foreign military and civic forces will also be stopped from other islands in the archipelago, the UK maintained the power to vetoo any access to the islands.
The treaty will apply only after being approved by both the UK and Mauritius parliament.
RootsWhen the deal was hit, the conservatives described it as “an act of national self-loss”, which left Britain “more exposed to China” due to his relations with Mauritius.
The Prime Minister insisted that the deal was mandatory to maintain the UK’s national security.
“If we did not agree with this deal, the legal position would mean that we would not be able to stop China or any other nation from establishing our own bases on the external islands or joint exercises near our base.”
“No responsible government can allow this to happen.”
The agreement was welcomed by Mauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover, who told the BBC in May: “Our country states that this 60 -year struggle is finally over.”
However, two women born in Diego Garcia, who were able to return there, raised a final minute legal challenge for the deal in May.
The High Court rejected the challenge.
