The UK's decision to grant full sovereignty to Mauritius has been passed through the International Court of Justice, Louis Olivier Bancoult, President of the Chagos Refugees Group, the main organization based in Mauritius representing the Chagossian community, told Sputnik Africa.
Bancoult emphasized that the UK's actions violated the UN Charter and led to years of injustice for the Chagossian community.
"The Chagossian people have been expelled and been suffering of injustice for so many years," the activist stated, adding that Chagossian struggle would continue because they wanted the people from Diego Garcia to have the same opportunities as those from the Salomon Islands.
Louis Bancoult also criticized the UK government for presenting itself as a champion of human rights while enacting such injustice towards the Chagossian people, noting that its government has been misleading people.
"You know, we do understand that there is a US military base on Diego Garcia. And we know about the difficulties. But despite the existing facilities, priority should be given to the Chagossians because we have foreigners working there. But we will not stop our struggle. We will continue," Bancoult said, revealing the existence of a secret agreement between the UK and US concerning the base, and the UK will retain sovereignty of Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years and will pay Mauritius an undisclosed rent.
Bancoult also praised the UK-Mauritius agreement as a positive example for the world. He emphasized that both sides chose dialogue and a peaceful solution rather than resorting to violence. This historic decision, he said, will finally end the Chagossian people's suffering and should serve as a model for resolving other conflicts where people are denied the right to return home.