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Sovereignty Debate Widens: If Chagos Belongs to Mauritius, Should Seychelles Too?
FNF News | May 22, 2025
As the United Kingdom signals willingness to hand over control of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, critics and historians are raising a new, complex question: If the Chagos Islands were part of Mauritius prior to their separation and should now be returned, doesn’t the same logic apply to the Seychelles?
The argument is gaining traction in legal and diplomatic circles, highlighting the fragile legacy of colonial borders and the inconsistencies of decolonization. Some observers argue that by the same legal standard applied to Chagos, the Seychelles—another former dependency of Mauritius—might also have a contested sovereignty history.
Colonial History: A Shared Past, A Divergent Future
Both the Seychelles and the Chagos Islands were dependencies of Mauritius under French and later British colonial rule. The Seychelles was governed as part of the colony of Mauritius until 1903, when it became a separate British crown colony. The Chagos Islands were likewise split off in 1965, just before Mauritius gained independence.
“The principle behind the return of Chagos to Mauritius is that its detachment before independence was unlawful under international law,” says Dr. Aarti Bhanot, a legal historian at Oxford University. “But by that reasoning, the Seychelles’ detachment could also be questioned—though it occurred earlier.”
This line of reasoning is now prompting renewed analysis of how international legal precedents are applied, and whether there are inconsistencies in how colonial detachment is interpreted.
International Law and the ICJ Precedent
In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the UK’s separation of Chagos from Mauritius in 1965 was unlawful, calling it a violation of the right to self-determination. The ICJ stated that the entire territory should have been returned intact upon Mauritius’s independence in 1968.
“If sovereignty claims are based solely on historical administrative links, then logically that opens the door for broader claims,” said Professor Jean-Claude Perrier, a constitutional law expert based in Geneva. “But that’s a legal and political hornet’s nest.”
The Seychelles, now a sovereign nation and UN member since 1976, has never had its statehood questioned. Nonetheless, some believe the Mauritius government could argue that it lost both territories under similar circumstances.
Mauritius’ Position: A Matter of Principle
Mauritian officials have not indicated any current claims over the Seychelles but continue to emphasize their legal right to Chagos. Mauritius has maintained that its fight to regain Chagos is rooted in international law and decolonization justice, not expansionism.
“Our claim to Chagos is based on the 1965 separation which was done in violation of UN principles. The case of Seychelles, which became a separate colony decades earlier, is not the same,” said a Mauritian Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
However, scholars warn that such distinctions could become blurred if other former colonial dependencies begin to revisit past separations—especially with support from international courts.
Seychelles Responds: No Threat Seen
The government of Seychelles has issued no public statement on the matter, and there is no evidence that Mauritius is preparing a formal challenge. Nonetheless, analysts note that the idea of retroactive sovereignty claims could become a troubling precedent for other island nations or former colonies.
“The concern is that revisiting all colonial borders opens up too many unresolved tensions globally,” said Dr. Helen Nash, a political geographer. “While Chagos is a unique case, it sets a precedent that others may try to follow.”
A Broader Debate About Colonial Legacy
At its core, the issue speaks to the unfinished business of decolonization. As former colonies continue to challenge the legal and moral foundations of 19th- and 20th-century imperial arrangements, the world is increasingly being forced to grapple with the consequences of borders drawn without consent.
Whether this leads to revisions of history or further geopolitical friction remains to be seen.
Sources:
- International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Chagos, 2019
- Mauritius Ministry of Foreign Affairs Briefing, 2025
- United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/73/295
- BBC Archive: “The Creation of the Seychelles Crown Colony”, 1903