At the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mauritius reaffirms that its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is “non-negotiable.” Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful called for respect for international law and the implementation of the agreement signed with the United Kingdom in May 2025, which provides for the recognition of Mauritian sovereignty while guaranteeing the continued operation of the U.S.-British military base on Diego Garcia.
The Chagos Archipelago remains at the heart of a sovereignty dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. At the United Nations on 25 September 2026, Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful reaffirmed his call for the completion of the process initiated with the United Kingdom following the agreement signed on 22 May 2025, which provides for the transfer of the entire archipelago under Mauritian sovereignty, including Diego Garcia. For Port Louis, the agreement illustrates the role of multilateralism and international judicial mechanisms in the peaceful settlement of disputes. Ramful is therefore calling for what he describes as a historic injustice to be addressed without delay.
The Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago, signed by Mauritius and the United Kingdom in May 2025, stands as living proof that trust in multilateralism and UN judicial organs can achieve the peaceful settlement of disputes and the completion of our nation’s decolonisation and restore the rights of Mauritians of Chagos origin by force of law.
Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs
More than a year after its signature, the matter has not yet been finally resolved. While the agreement still has to go through the necessary legal procedures before it can enter into force, on 21 September 2026, the British Prime Minister reiterated his intention to work with Mauritius and the United States to find a way to ensure the continued operation of the base. For Mauritius, the objective therefore remains twofold: to secure the effective recognition of its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago and to achieve the full implementation of the agreement.
We trust that states which laid the very foundation of the new post-war legal order will recommit to full respect and compliance with international law and correct this historical injustice without delay. As William Edward Gladstone, a four-term former British Prime Minister and great campaigner for peace and freedom put it, justice delayed is justice denied.
Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs
In return for the recognition of Mauritian sovereignty, Mauritius authorises the United Kingdom to exercise the rights and powers necessary for the operation of the military base for an initial period of 99 years. The agreement also provides for British financial support to Mauritius, the possibility of a resettlement programme for Chagossians on islands other than Diego Garcia, as well as commitments to environmental protection and maritime security.
