Mauritius holds ceremony to challenge ownership of Chagos islands by the UK

Mauritius has challenged the United Kingdom's ownership of the Chagos archipelago after an official from the Indian Ocean state raised his country's flag above the island of Peros Banhos.

The Guardian reported that Mauritian officials, and some former residents of the islands who had been expelled by the British more than 50 years ago, sang the national anthem in a ceremony to assert its claim over the disputed archipelago on Monday.

Jagdish Koonjul, the Mauritian ambassador to the United Nations, raised the country's flag on a beach with the group gathered around.

Koonjul said: "We are performing the symbolic act of raising the flag as the British have done so many times to establish colonies. We, however, are reclaiming what has always been our own."

The Times noted that the officials and islanders set off in a boat from the Seychelles last week for what was described as a "scientific study" of a partly submerged reef.

It was said to be the first expedition by Mauritius to the islands without seeking the permission of the UK. The British government criticized the visit as a political stunt to enforce its sovereignty.

The Guardian reported that a plaque placed by the flagpole said: "Visit of the Mauritius delegation to Peros Banhos archipelago, Republic of Mauritius, in the context of the scientific survey of Blenheim Reef."

A message from Mauritius' prime minister, Pravind Jugnauth, was broadcast on a speaker.

"I'm delighted that our Chagossian brothers and sisters are able to travel to their birthplace without any foreign (i.e. British) escort," he said.

"The message I wish to give out to the world, as the state with sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, is that we will ensure a wise stewardship of its territory-over its maritime security, conservation of the marine environment and human rights, notably the return of those of Chagossian origin."

In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK should return the islands to Mauritius after their "unlawful detachment". Soon after, the resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly.

The UK was urged to end its "unlawful occupation" of the Chagos Islands by the prime minister of Mauritius, but Britain has refused to hand over control. The Times said a UN deadline for London to comply has long passed with no action. More than 1,500 inhabitants were shipped off the islands in the early 1970s, mostly to Mauritius and the Seychelles, and have never been allowed to return.

The largest of the islands, Diego Garcia, was leased to the United States to be used as an airbase.