Chagos and Tromelin: Mauritius adamant to recover excised territories

The government is adamant at recovering its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago and on Tromelin islet. The Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth in a reply to the Private Notice Question put to him by the Leader of the Opposition at the National Assembly on Tuesday 17 May said in unequivocal terms that the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, and the Island of Tromelin form an integral part of the territory of Mauritius. “Mauritius does not recognize the so-called ‘British Indian Ocean Territory’ which the United Kingdom purported to create by illegally excising the Chagos Archipelago from the territory of Mauritius prior to its accession to independence, in violation of international law and United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 2066 (XX) of 16 December 1965, 2232 (XXI) of 20 December 1966 and 2357 (XXII) of 19 December 1967,” stated the Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth in his reply. Following the delivery of the award by the Arbitral Tribunal, the Prime Minister wrote to the British Prime Minister on 14 April and 14 May 2015 to indicate that Mauritius stands ready to enter into negotiations with the United Kingdom, on the understanding that the latter shall fully respect the rights of Mauritius under UNCLOS and international law. He also drew the attention of the British Prime Minister to the ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal regarding the return of the Chagos. Hardly any progress has been made in two rounds of discussions in view of the differing interpretations of the Award by Mauritius and the United Kingdom. “Mauritius considers that the ‘marine protected area’ purportedly established by the United Kingdom around the Chagos Archipelago is without legal effect under international law and cannot be enforced; this view is not shared by the United Kingdom. Further, the United Kingdom’s interpretation of the Award is very narrow,” stated Sir Anerood Jugnauth.

Sovereignty over Tromelin

The government will continue to press for the early resolution of the dispute between Mauritius and France over the Island of Tromelin, “in the spirit of friendship and trust which has always characterized the relationship between the two countries” stated the Prime Minister. Pending the settlement of the sovereignty dispute between Mauritius and France over the Island of Tromelin, the two countries reached an agreement in 2010 on the co-management of the Island of Tromelin, without prejudice to the sovereignty of Mauritius over the island.