Deal to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius can go ahead, UK court rules | BBC News

The UK’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius can go ahead, a High Court judge has ruled.

The deal was stopped by a last-minute court injunction in early hours of Thursday morning – but that was discharged just after 12:30 GMT.

The UK wants to hand over control of the Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius, before paying to lease the existing US-UK military base.

The government welcomes the High Court lifting the injunction, saying the deal is "vital to protect the British people and our national security".

"I’m beyond horrified and angry," one Chagossian campaigner told the BBC – another says: "We are not giving up."

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