Members of the Chagossian-British community gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in the afternoon of 22 May to hear the outcome of a legal challenge to halt a deal between the UK and Mauritius over the Chagos Islands.

A High Court judge issued the last-minute order at 2:25am that day, pausing the signing and the UK transferring sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.

The order was sought by Bernadette Dugasse, 68, and Beatrice Pompe, 54, who are British nationals, born on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia.

They are hoping to return to Diego Garcia one day but said they feared it would become harder to do so if the territory is taken back by Mauritius.

The British-Chagossian protestors outside the High Court were calling for a halt to the potential deal being signed, until their wishes were considered.

The injunction was then later overturned by the High Court that same day, allowing the UK government to sign the deal with Mauritius.

This was to the disappointment of Ms Dugasse, Ms Pompe, and the protestors outside.

Vanessa Mandarin Calou, a Chagossian resident who lives in London, said the actions of the UK government are “frustrating”.

“They are not respecting our rights as Chagossian and the Chagos Islands are a UK sovereignty.”

The Chagos Islands are located in the Indian Ocean, between East Africa and Indonesia.

In October 2024, Britain agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a former colony that gained independence in 1968.

Hours after the injunction had been issued, and then overturned, Sir Keir Starmer signed a deal to hand sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius and lease back a key military base for £101m a year.

Under the deal, Mauritius would also allow the UK and the US to continue operating a military base on Diego Garcia, for an initial period of 99 years.

At a news conference in West London that same day, for the Chagos Islands deal made with Mauritius, Sir Keir said: “By agreeing to this deal now – on our terms – we are securing strong protections”.

He added: “Today’s agreement is the only way to maintain the base in the long term. There is no alternative.”

Addressing the press outside the High Court, with the protestors, Ms Pompe said: “Unfortunately, today has been a very, very sad day, but we take courage with the people we have behind us.”

“We are British citizens, yet our rights do not count. We do not want to handover our rights to Mauritius.”

She added that she will “keep fighting” for the government to listen.

Ms Calou added: “I would say to the Prime Minister to listen to the British people”.

“Don’t give our island to Mauritius. Respect our right of self-determination.”