Mauritius orders review of PM's Chagos Islands deal

The new Mauritian government has ordered an independent review of the Chagos Islands agreement, The Independent understands, throwing the future of Sir Keir Starmer’s deal into even greater uncertainty.

- MILLIE COOKE

The new administration in Mauritius, which took over after elections last month, has previously expressed doubts about the terms of the agreement, with the UK’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, travelling to the country in an attempt to smooth over any issues.

But sources in Mauritius have since said the new government feels it was “kept in the dark” over the agreement.

In a statement to the Mauritian parliament yesterday, the country’s new prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, said the details of the deal were “unknown to the new government” throughout the two years of negotiations.

As first reported in The Independent, Mr Ramgoolam announced the government would now be conducting an independent review into the terms of the agreement, the findings of which will be considered by the cabinet. The prime minister also said he has consulted external legal advisers over the deal.

It comes just one day after Downing Street said there is “no discussion around renegotiating the deal”.