UK government denies rift with Mauritian PM over Chagos Island deal

Downing Street says ‘details’ being discussed after newly elected Navinchandra Ramgoolam criticised the agreement

Downing Street has denied that a deal with Mauritius to hand over control of the Chagos Islands is in peril after the island’s new prime minister said the arrangement as it stands is not beneficial to his country.

The agreement, under which the UK would hand over its final African colony while keeping control of the UK-US military base on the island of Diego Garcia for at least 99 years, was reached in October with the previous Mauritian administration.