London: A UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination has urged the UK and Mauritius to respect the right of displaced Chagossians to return to their ancestral home on Diego Garcia Island, the largest of the Chagos Archipelago.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) called on the British and Mauritian governments to suspend the ratification of a deal on the Chagos Islands' sovereignty, as outlined in a statement released on Monday.

In May, the UK and Mauritius signed a deal transferring the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while allowing the US and UK to operate the strategic Diego Garcia military base for 99 years, with an option to extend for 40 years. However, the agreement has not yet been enforced, pending domestic ratification.

The CERD expressed concern that while the bilateral agreement permits Mauritius to resettle Chagossians on other islands, it explicitly prevents their return to their ancestral lands on Diego Garcia Island. The committee noted that this restriction blocks the Chagossians from accessing their cultural and spiritual sites and from exercising and preserving their cultural rights.

Additionally, the committee highlighted that Chagossians were not consulted or included in decision-making processes affecting their rights and lands. It emphasized that the agreement fails to guarantee full reparations, including the right to return to Diego Garcia, compensation, or formal recognition of past harms.

Historically, Britain took control of the islands in the early 19th century following the surrender of French forces. Mauritius and its dependencies, including the Chagos Islands, were officially proclaimed a British colony in 1814 under the Treaty of Paris.