Mauritian PM orders ‘independent review’ of UK Chagos deal

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Mauritian prime minister has asked for an “independent review” of the Chagos Islands deal with the UK, according to parliamentary records. According to the Mauritian parliament Hansard record, the new prime minister Navin Ramgoolam said during a session on Friday: “I wish to inform the House that I have asked for an independent review of the confidential draft agreement agreed so far.” The deal to cede sovereignty over the archipelago to the Mauritian government was announced earlier this year and officials have said itsecures the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. It secures the base that’s in the vital interests of the US and the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this week Under the terms of the deal, the UK-US military presence on the island is expected to run for 99 years with an option to renew, with Britain paying a regular annual sum of money. Officials are understood to be confident that the agreement is in both sides’ interests, and the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said earlier this week that “we have always said that we look forward to engaging with the new Mauritian government and that’s exactly what we’re doing in order to progress the deal”.