The Mauritian Government has been plunged into crisis after senior politicians became embroiled in a row over “excessive concessions” in Britain’s surrender of the Chagos Islands.

The country’s Deputy PM Paul Berenger has threatened to pull his party’s support from the country’s coalition Government over disagreements surrounding the deal.

Mr Berenger is believed to have voiced concerns about conservation belts which would enclose the Diego Garcia military base.

The belts, which have surrounded the joint UK-US military base for almost five decades, restrict the access of Mauritians to the sensitive base.

Mr Berenger is also understood to have raised objections over surveillance around the Indian Ocean islands.

The deal to hand over the islands to Mauritius was set to be completed by the end of 2025 – but the House of Lords threatened to block the bill from passing.

The Chagos Islands treaty was signed by Sir Keir Starmer in May, and will see Britain pay to hand over sovereignty to islands over to Mauritius.

The treaty will see Britain fork out at least £30billion over 99 years to lease back the Diego Garcia military base.

Between 1968 and 1973, the Chagossians were forced to leave Diego Garcia and the surrounding islands, before being relocated to Britain.

Many of the relocated islanders have voiced staunch opposition against Britain’s ceding of sovereignty over the territory.

In September, Chagossians reported Sir Keir to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his role in alleged “crimes against humanity”.

Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice in May, Bertrice Pompe, a British woman who was born on the islands, said: “They are not treating us, that we are human beings. We have rights. We are British citizens, yet our right doesn’t count?

THE CHAGOS ISLANDS SURRENDER – READ MORE: 

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• Labour accused of rigging debate over Chagos surrender by smuggling in ‘killer’ clause

“We don’t want to give our rights, hand over our rights to Mauritius.”

Mr Berenger is believed to be prepared to resign over his concerns surrounding the deal, accusing a “gang of five” within Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam’s office of acting behind his back.

Mauritian politics is largely ruled by two families: the Ramgoolams and the Jugnauths. Mr Berenger from 2003-2005 was the only person to have held the office outside of the duo.

According to Mauritian outlet Defi Media, one of Mr Berenger’s main points of contention concerns how “concessions deemed excessive are being made to the British in the final stages of the archipelago’s sovereignty”.

A meeting between the Mr Ramgoolam and his deputy last week eased tensions, but there is still concerns that Mr Berenger could collapse the coalition.

Though the Deputy PM’s special adviser Vijay Makhan said the Prime Minister had not voiced fears over “excessive concessions” being afforded to Britain.

Mr Makhan accused British politicians of trying to dismantle the agreement.

He said: “The party that initiated the negotiations are now desperately trying to scuttle the agreement based on fabricated narratives.”

Mauritian Attorney General Gavin Glover confirmed he will be meeting with senior UK officials on Friday to discuss environmental and security measures within the deal.

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