Mauritius Government on Edge Over Chagos Deal as Deputy PM Warns of 'Excessive Concessions' to UK

Mauritian coalition shaken by controversy over Chagos islands agreement

The Mauritian government has been plunged into a political crisis after objections were raised about what critics describe as “excessive concessions” being offered to the UK under the Chagos Islands agreement negotiated by Sir Keir Starmer.

Deputy Prime Minister Paul Bérenger has publicly objected to the creation of strict conservation belts around Diego Garcia—the atoll that has served as a joint UK–US military base since the 1970s—arguing that the proposed protected zones would effectively limit access for Mauritian citizens and restrict civilian movement near the base. He has also expressed concern to Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam about proposed surveillance arrangements for maritime routes around the archipelago.

Under the treaty Sir Keir signed in May, the UK would relinquish sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory and pay Mauritius £30 billion over 99 years to lease back the strategic Diego Garcia base. The handover, originally expected by the end of the year, was postponed after the government faced the threat of defeat in the House of Lords, where it lacks a majority.

The Chagossian community—removed from Diego Garcia and other islands between 1968 and 1973 and relocated to Britain—remain opposed to parts of the arrangement, with many objecting to transfer of the archipelago to Mauritius.

On 3 November, Mauritius announced the creation of one of the world’s largest marine protected areas: the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area (Campa). CAMPA spans more than 645,000 sq km, divides the territory into four management zones and imposes a blanket ban on commercial fishing. A strict conservation belt surrounding Diego Garcia would cover 23,712 sq km and, critics say, would effectively prevent civilian movement close to the military facility.

Reports say Mr Bérenger has threatened to resign and accused a so‑called “gang of five” around the prime minister’s office of negotiating behind his back. Defi Media quoted sources: “One of Paul Bérenger’s main points of contention concerns this sensitive issue: concessions deemed excessive are being made to the British in the final stages of the archipelago’s sovereignty.”

A meeting between Mr Bérenger and Mr Ramgoolam last week reduced immediate tensions, but officials warned the truce was driven by political necessity rather than a permanent resolution. Senior aides said the coalition remains fragile and that a withdrawal by Mr Bérenger’s party could destabilise the government.

Vijay Makhan, a special adviser to the deputy prime minister, denied the coalition was on the verge of collapse and said Mr Bérenger had not complained about “excessive concessions.” He also accused some UK politicians of trying to derail the agreement with misleading claims: “The party that initiated the negotiations are now desperately trying to scuttle the agreement based on fabricated narratives.”

Gavin Glover, the Mauritian attorney general, said he will travel to London to discuss the security and environmental aspects of the deal. “We expect to finalise the ancillary agreements to ensure the implementation of the treaty,” he told The Telegraph. Officials said talks will focus on maritime security, the management of the marine protected area, arrangements for the Chagossian Trust Fund and administrative matters such as the telephone prefix for Diego Garcia, with a target to conclude those points by the end of November before formal drafting and review.

Why it matters: The dispute highlights competing priorities—strategic defence arrangements with the UK and the US, environmental protection, and the rights and aspirations of the Chagossian community—while exposing fault lines within Mauritius’s governing coalition that could have significant domestic and diplomatic repercussions.