The Prime Minister of Mauritius has announced on Monday a “historic visit” by a research vessel to the disputed Chagos Islands, an archipelago claimed in full by Mauritius but which is being administered by Britain.
Pravind Jugnauth has told reporters that a scientific vessel would set out on Tuesday to the remote islands in the Indian Ocean. The 15-day expedition is headed by Mauritius’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jagdish Koonjul (who has previously written in The Interpreter on potential resolutions to this dispute). Koonjul is accompanied by Mauritius’ legal adviser, British Academic, Professor Philippe Sands, Mauritian government officials and Chagossians, who were forcibly evicted from their islands by the British in the 60s and 70s to make way for a military base. British and American journalists have also joined the voyage to document the spectacle.
The expedition intends to land at the remote Blenheim Reef, a partly submerged atoll approximately 230 kilometers north of Diego Garcia, the location of a large joint US–UK military base. Ostensibly a “scientific survey” of Blenheim Reef, the voyage is intended to be a public rebuke to continued British administration over the contentious Chagos. According to Mauritius, Blenheim Reef is not only under Britain’s “illegal” administration, but it is also now subjected to a maritime boundary dispute between Mauritius and the neighboring islands, Maldives. Mauritius has chartered the former naval ship, the 430,000 Euro per week, “Bleu de Nimes” superyacht for the voyage. The delegation can enjoy the onboard sauna, gym, and dual sun deck Jacuzzis en route to the disputed reef.
Maldives government stymied the plan, forcing the superyacht to depart Seychelles instead
While the Mauritian government originally intended for this voyage to depart from the nearby Maldives, the Maldives government stymied the plan, forcing the superyacht to depart Seychelles instead. “It will be the first time that Mauritius will lead an expedition to the long-contested islands without requesting permission from the United Kingdom or the United States”, added the Prime Minister. This action has placed Britain, which administers the disputed island territory, in a very difficult position.
It follows a 2019 ruling of the International Court of Justice that backed the claim by Mauritius whereby stating that Britain should give up control of the islands. “It is with great pride that I announce that Mauritius will undertake a trip to the Mauritian territory of the Chagos Archipelago, in particular to Blenheim Reef for a scientific study,” said Pravind Jugnauth.
“This will be a historic visit because it is the first time since the Independence of Mauritius on 12th March 1968 that the Mauritian State… is organizing a trip to this part of its territory in the middle of the Indian Ocean without having to seek permission from anyone.”
The Chagos Islands have been at the center of decades-long dispute over Britain’s decision to separate these islands from Mauritius in 1965 and set up a joint military base with the US on Diego Garcia, the largest of the isles.
“Both London and Washington had been informed as a courtesy that the mission would be conducting research in the area, but would avoid Diego Garcia”, said the PM. The Mauritian Permanent Representative to the United Nations would be aboard along with scientists and the Chagos islanders.
To recall, Mauritius has fought since 1975 to return the Archipelago to its territory and in 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that Britain should give up control of the islands. Later that year, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution recognizing that “the Chagos Archipelago forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius” and recommending that Britain should withdraw within six months.
Britain, some 9,500 kilometers (5,900 miles) to the west from Chagos, insists the islands belong to London and has refused to leave. It has renewed a lease agreement with the United States to use Diego Garcia until 2036. Diego Garcia played a strategic role during the Cold War as an airbase, including during the war in Afghanistan. Mauritius has described their continued presence as “an illegal administration.”
Without any due, the UK responded to this expedition as this expedition undoubtedly shows a level of restraint by Mauritius. Rather than sailing a Mauritius Coast Guard vessel, a superyacht (while also undoubtedly more comfortable) will be a less threatening prospect for Whitehall’s decision-makers pondering a response.
The expedition does not appear to be sailing near US military base on Diego Garcia
Secondly, the expedition does not appear to be sailing near the sensitive and secretive joint UK–US military base on Diego Garcia. Private yachts regularly transit through the Chagos, and anchor in its atolls. So as long as Bleu de Nimes steers clear of Diego Garcia, its transit will not affect the base security. Blenheim Reef is a considerable distance from Diego Garcia.
Further, while representatives of the Chagossian community have joined the expedition, there is no indication that the voyage plans to commence or further Chagossian resettlement. For its part, Mauritius has promised to resettle the Chagos Archipelago should it gain sovereignty.
Ostensibly a “scientific survey” of Blenheim Reef, the voyage is intended to be a public rebuke to continued British administration over the contentious Chagos. According to Mauritius, Blenheim Reef is not only under Britain’s “illegal” administration, but it is also now subject to a maritime boundary dispute between Mauritius and neighbouring Maldives.
On his part, Henry Smith, the Conservative MP for Crawley, home to the largest Chagossian community in the UK, tackles Mauritius on the mission to Blenheim Atoll. The community itself deplores the cost of the cruise. Mauritius is accused of wanting to achieve a “political stunt”, with the real reason not being a scientific mission, but rather thumbing its nose at the United Kingdom to establish its sovereignty over the Archipelago.
In an interview with the Telegraph, Henry Smith, the Conservative MP for Crawley, who is home to the UK’s largest Chagossian community, stated that “this is a political statement by the Mauritian government with regards to its claims on the Chagos and nothing to do with conservation“. He added that “their record on conservation is abysmal. Last year, there was a tanker spillage of over 1,000 tonnes of oil off the coast of Mauritius and the government was very slow to act“.
The English , Chagossian Voices also spoke out against this trip. He explains that he prefers to self-manage the Chagos as the community is discriminated against and has no access to employment in Mauritius. “This is an obscenely expensive vanity expedition carried out without proper consultation with the Chagossian community,” says Chagossian Voices.
“Many Chagossians are appalled that such a huge sum of money can be spent at a time of economic crisis while Chagossians remain on the margins of Mauritian society. Chagossians are filled with dread at the prospect of the islands being handed to Mauritius”, he concluded.
