Transparency is not a word associated with the UK Government’s Chagos Islands sovereignty deal with Mauritius. 

Few details in the secret bi-lateral talks have been publicised. Members of Parliament, the Chagossian people and the public are not able to find out.

Some of the main areas the negotiations cover are known such as the terms of a new lease for Britain to use one of the islands Diego Garcia as a military base. Or the need to discuss Chagossian people’s interest about the islands. 

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a Statement to Parliament on 7 October 2024 confirming that past historical wrongs would be put right with a new British – Mauritian Trust Fund for Chagossians, British government support to UK Chagossians and, a programme of visits to the islands. 

Jonathan Powell, then Special Envoy for the negotiations to the UK Prime Minister, told Channel 4 News on 3 October 2024 that those worried about the threat from China after sovereignty is handed over need not worry. He said, “when you come to see the treaty which is basically finished, when it’s signed and ratified, you’ll see that it does take care of any of those concerns in the text that we have.” He added, “I’m not going to be specific about exactly what it says.”

US President Donald Trump commented about the Deal at a press conference with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on 27 February 2025 that “I have a feeling it’s going to work out very well.”

As a result of the limited information there has been much speculation about the billions of pounds the new lease will cost British taxpayers. There is concern that Chinese security threats are being underplayed. Questions continue to be raised about whether Britain should do the bidding of the Judges at the International Court of Justice who have issued their advice on sovereignty.

In the absence of a seat at the negotiation table some Chagossian campaigners fear their right to re-settle on their homeland, their democratic rights to self-determination and demands for compensation to be given directly to individuals will not feature in the final treaty.

Leaders’ talks are on-going. When the final treaty is presented to Parliament to vote on the terms will have been agreed already by UK, US and Mauritius leaders. 

We need to know what is being negotiated in more detail and discuss it ourselves. 

Otherwise how can we hold our leaders to account?