• The UK has signed a significant deal transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
• The deal allows continued use of the Diego Garcia airbase for at least 99 years.
• The signing was delayed due to a last-minute legal challenge from Chagossian residents.
• The agreement is viewed as a step towards resolving historical grievances regarding colonial pasts.
• Critics raise concerns over dependence on Mauritius, which has ties to China.

The UK has formally signed an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move that allows the UK and the US to retain control of the critical military base on Diego Garcia for at least 99 years. This multibillion-pound deal was finalized after a High Court lifted a last-minute injunction brought by two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who argued that the deal was being finalized without proper consultation with their community, according to BBC, Reuters, and India Times.

The deal not only cedes sovereignty to Mauritius but also ensures that the Diego Garcia base remains operational under a lease expected to cost the UK approximately £3.4 billion over the agreement's term. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the deal’s importance for national security, citing potential threats posed by nations like China, according to India Times and Le Monde.

After much political wrangling and a shift in leaders in Mauritius, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam described the signing as completing a long process of decolonization for Mauritius. He celebrated the agreement as a significant victory for his nation, while international bodies have also welcomed the resolution. The UN has praised the accord, suggesting it demonstrates the power of diplomacy in addressing historical disputes, according to Africanews and TRT Global.

However, the agreement has attracted criticism amid concerns over the relationship between Mauritius and China, as well as the impact on displaced Chagossian communities, some of whom feel excluded from the negotiations regarding their homeland. Prominent opposition figures in the UK have voiced their worries that the agreement might compromise British interests due to Mauritius's economic ties with China, according to South China Morning Post and NPR.