Britain has acknowledged Mauritian sovereignty over Chagos yet continued delay in ratification is reopening contradictions that international law has already settled. It signed, on 22 May 2025, an agreement recognising Mauritian sovereignty over the archipelago, including Diego Garcia. It is a moment that will be judged against the settled direction of international law and the opportunity to correct a clear historical wrong. Britain has long argued that international law matters—that it is not merely aspirational, but operational. And a country that treats international law as optional in practice cannot expect it to be respected in principle.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 08, 2026 11:03 UTC