Pope Liu XIV says that the Shaghus Islands in the United Kingdom are dealing with “victory”

Pope Liu XIV said he was “pleased” that the United Kingdom has agreed to hand over the Shaghus Islands to Mauritius.

Speaking to a delegation of 15 Shaghous refugees, Pope Liu said this step was a “great victory” in their long battle “to reform serious injustice.”

According to conditions Treaty signed in MayMauritius will gain the sovereignty of the islands from the United Kingdom, but allow the United States and the United Kingdom to continue to operate a military base in one of the islands, Diego Garcia, for a preliminary period of 99 years.

The Pope said he hoped that the Mauritanian authorities will guarantee that refugees would be able to return to the homeland. Opposition leaders in the United Kingdom – and some Chagossians now residing in the United Kingdom – have criticized the deal.

French speaker, Pope Liu said: “The renewed possibility of your return to your original archipelago is an encouraging sign and a strong symbol on the international stage.”

He added that all people “must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, especially the right to live on their land, and no one can force them to exile.”

The UK bought the islands for 3 million pounds in 1968, but Mauritius argued that it illegally had to abandon the islands in order to obtain independence from Britain.

The islands were then cleared to make way for a base of the UK armed forces with large groups of Shaghusi who moved to Mauritius and Seachyle, or a call for stability in England, especially in Crowley and West Sussex.

In May, the government said it would pay Mauritius with an average of 101 million pounds annually for a period of 99 years under the terms of the agreement.

The deal determines a 24 miles insulation around Diego Garcia, where nothing can be built without the approval of the UK.

Foreign military and civilian forces will also be banned from other islands in the archipelago, while keeping the United Kingdom to the authority of the islands.

The treaty will not enter into force until it is approved by both British and Mauritanian parliaments.

When the deal was concluded, the conservatives described it as a “national self -harm”, which left the United Kingdom “more exposed to China” because of its relations with Mauritius.

The Prime Minister insisted that the deal was necessary to maintain national security in the United Kingdom.

“If we do not agree on this deal, the legal situation means that we will not be able to prevent China or any other country to prepare its own bases on the external islands or implement common exercises near our base,” said Sir Kerr Starmer.

“No responsible government can leave it.”

The agreement was welcomed by the Maurian Prosecutor Javin Glove, who told the BBC in May: “Our country is vibrant because this 60 -year -old conflict has finally ended.”

However, two women born in Diego Garcia wanted to be able to return there had raised a legal challenge at the last minute of the deal in May.

The Supreme Court continued to reject the challenge.