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The Chagos  Islands (BIOT) All-Party Parliamentary Group held its 93rd meeting and 14th AGM on 7 November 2023.

The Chagos Islands (BIOT) APPG held its 93rd meeting and 14th AGM on 7 November. The Group was joined by a large number of MPs who participated in the vote for APPG officers. Under new rules a Chairman and three Vice-chairs were elected. They are Chairman Henry Smith MP (Cons) and Vice-chairs Baroness Whitaker (Lab), Baroness Ludford (LibDem) and Patrick Grady MP (SNP).

The meeting considered  answers to Questions and PQs since the last meeting on 12 July. Members reviewed the current negotiations which had been due to conclude by early this year, announced on 3 November 2022, between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty, continuing effective operation of the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia, resettlement of Chagossians and the Marine Protected Area on the basis of international law.  Members discussed the three rounds of consultations which FCDO had held with Chagossians and urged that these should be intensified.They took note of the latest FCDO press  statement of 27 October: 

“The UK and Mauritius have held 7 rounds of constructive negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago, and officials will meet again soon to continue negotiations. The UK Government’s clear aim is the continued full operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in national, regional and global security. The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement reached between our two countries will do this.”  

Members agreed that the new Chairman should write to the Foreign Secretary to invite him to meet the APPG at the next meeting, whether or not  he had progress to report. It was also agreed that the Group would have another meeting with Chagossian Voices and any other Chagossian groups that wished to meet them in the new year.

The next meeting is on 13 December.

David Snoxell

Coordinator

Time for an overall settlement of the future of the Chagos Islands and of the Chagos Islanders

The Chagos Islands (BIOT) APPG held its 11th AGM and 75th meeting on 17 July 2019. Members reviewed developments since their last meeting on 22 May which had coincided with the debate in the UN General Assembly on the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 25 February. They took note of the statements made by the Prime Minister of Mauritius and the UK Permanent Representative to the UN. They welcomed UN Resolution 73/295 on the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965, which the General Assembly adopted by 116 in favour, 6 against and 56 abstentions.

Recalling its statement of 21 December 2018 urging the Government to seek a resolution of the issues concerning the future of BIOT and of the Chagos Islanders the Group reaffirmed its wish to help bring about agreement between all parties on a way forward, in the light of the UNGA resolution setting a deadline of 22 November. The Group noted that the General Assembly was guided by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the inalienable right of self-determination of peoples, and the obligations arising from other instruments and rules of international law.

The Group urges the next British Government to respect the will of the United Nations, the Opinion of the ICJ and the requirements of international law which from the signature of the United Nations Charter in 1945 remain the keystone of the UK’s foreign policy and commitment to international order based on the rule of law.

The APPG believes that these matters must now be addressed urgently in diplomatic discussions between the UK and Mauritius so that an outline agreement on the implementation of Resolution 73/295 can be put before the General Assembly at it 74th session beginning on 17 September. To that end the Group recommends that the next government appoints an independent special envoy to negotiate an agreement. Members look forward to discussing these issues with the next Foreign Secretary and Minister of State.

Page last updated: 18 November 2023