Resolution comes after two British nationals born on Diego Garcia, the most important island within the archipelago, claimed the islands ought to stay beneath UK management.
A British Excessive Court docket choose has quickly blocked the federal government from transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The last-minute injunction on Thursday morning got here hours earlier than the settlement was anticipated to be signed at a digital ceremony with representatives from the Mauritian authorities.
The Excessive Court docket choice was granted after motion was taken by Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, two British nationals who had been born on the Diego Garcia army base on Chagos and claimed that the islands ought to stay beneath British management.
Excessive Court docket choose Julian Goose quickly blocked the British authorities from taking any “conclusive or legally binding step to conclude its negotiations regarding the potential switch of the British Indian Ocean Territory, also called the Chagos Archipelago, to a international authorities”.
“The defendant is to keep up the jurisdiction of the UK over the British Indian Ocean Territory till additional order,” he mentioned.
One other court docket listening to is about for 10.30am (09:30 GMT).
Earlier this yr, the lawyer for the 2 nationals, Michael Polak, mentioned on his chambers web site that the federal government’s try to “give away” the islands with out formal session with its residents is a “continuation of their horrible remedy by the authorities prior to now”.
“They continue to be the individuals with the closest connection to the islands, however their wants and needs are being ignored,” Polak mentioned.
The UK, which has managed the area since 1814, separated the Chagos Islands in 1965 from Mauritius to create the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Within the early Nineteen Seventies, the federal government evicted about 1,500 residents to Mauritius and Seychelles to make means for the Diego Garcia airbase on the most important island.
In October, the federal government introduced a draft settlement at hand the islands to Mauritius and permit Britain and the US to proceed utilizing the Diego Garcia base beneath a 99-year lease.
US President Donald Trump’s administration, which was consulted on the deal, gave its approval. Nevertheless, finalising the settlement was delayed by a change in authorities in Mauritius and reported last-minute negotiations over prices.
