Africa-Press – Mauritius. Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth of Mauritius says his recent trip to the United Kingdom included discussions on the residents of the Chagos Islands who were forced to leave decades ago, and he welcomed advances on returning the territory to his Indian Ocean island nation.
“The Government of Mauritius has always maintained that the forcible displacement of the entire Chagossian community was a terrible wrong, and that justice must be done,” said Jugnauth in a statement.
“It reiterates its commitment to the implementation of an effective and speedy plan for resettlement in the Chagos Archipelago.
“All individuals of Chagossian origin, wherever they live in the world, who wish to resettle in the Chagos Archipelago will be able to do so in accordance with the laws of Mauritius.
The UK and Mauritius announced new negotiations on Chagos in November 2022, but the UK has long disregarded international legal decisions, including those of the United Nations International Court of Justice and its 2019 ruling that called for the return of land that was seized during the 1960s and 1970s.
Between 1967 and 1973, Chagossians were dispersed across Mauritius, Seychelles and other nations. A recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report calls on Mauritius, Seychelles and the UK to guarantee the rights and equality of Chagossians living in their territory, including assurances of full citizenship and family reunification.
The HRW report also calls for financial compensation for Chagos Island residents who were impacted by what the human rights NGO says are crimes against humanity because of forced displacement, the prevention of their return home by the UK, and racial and ethnic discrimination by the UK.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
