Chagos Deal Backlash: UK Under Fire Over £30 Billion Payout and Chagossian Rights

The UK’s Chagos Island deal, which funds tax cuts in Mauritius through a $136 million annual lease, has sparked political backlash and UN criticism for neglecting Chagossian rights and allowing continued foreign military presence.

The UK government is facing mounting criticism over its controversial deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius—a move that not only carries significant financial implications but also raises serious human rights concerns.

Under the terms of the agreement, the United Kingdom will pay Mauritius approximately $136 million (around £106 million) annually to lease back the strategic military base on Diego Garcia for a minimum of 99 years. This has triggered outrage among some British lawmakers, who argue that the deal effectively transfers billions of pounds of public funds to a foreign government without adequate transparency or public support.

The backlash intensified after it emerged that Mauritius plans to scrap income tax, a move reportedly enabled by the funds from the Chagos agreement. Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch sharply criticized the arrangement, stating, “This morning, we heard that Mauritius is scrapping income tax because of this terrible Chagos Deal. Why on earth should the British taxpayer pay £30 billion for tax cuts in Mauritius?”

Critics argue that the government has failed to justify the enormous expenditure, especially at a time when the UK is grappling with economic challenges and public service pressures. Beyond the financial implications, the deal is also being condemned for its lack of commitment to the rights of the Chagossian people, who were forcibly removed from the islands decades ago to make way for the military base.

The United Nations has weighed in, urging the UK to renegotiate the deal to prioritize the rights of the Chagossians. A statement from the UN noted that maintaining a foreign military presence on Diego Garcia while continuing to prevent the return of the Chagossian people is “at variance with their right to return.”

Human rights groups and international observers have echoed these concerns, calling for a more transparent and inclusive process that recognizes the historical injustices suffered by the Chagossians and offers a clear path for their return and resettlement.

As the debate continues, pressure is mounting on the UK government to provide clearer answers on the motivations behind the deal and how it intends to address both fiscal accountability and the long-standing plight of the Chagossian community.