UK's Chagos Islands deal 'significant victory', says Pope

The UK's agreement to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been hailed as a "significant victory" by Pope Leo XIV. The Chagos Islands, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean, were detached from Mauritius by the UK in the 1960s and have since been used as a military base by the US. The Pope expressed hope that Mauritian authorities would ensure the safe return of Chagossian refugees, who were forcibly evicted from their homes in the 1960s and 1970s. The transfer of control marks a significant step in the long-standing dispute between the UK and Mauritius over the sovereignty of the islands. The agreement is seen as a victory for the Chagossian people, who have been campaigning for decades to regain their ancestral homeland. The Pope's statement underscores the global significance of this decision and the importance of addressing the historical injustices faced by the Chagossian community.