Mauritius details Chagos Archipelago legal costs and diplomatic efforts
via Le Mauricien1 min read
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam provided an update to Parliament on April 21 regarding communications between the Mauritian and British governments concerning the Chagos Archipelago agreement. He stated that the London-based firm Withers LLP has been retained by the government since November 2024. International lawyers, including Haeri Hussein KC, Floriane Lavaud, Camilla Gambarini, Jovana Crncevic, Maanya Tandon, and Sudipta Purkayastha, have been appointed to handle the case. Fees paid to these foreign advisors total GBP 408,028.40 to date, with an additional Rs 631,285 spent on their airfare, without daily allowances. Locally, the Attorney General's office, including the Attorney General and Solicitor General, has provided legal support without additional remuneration. However, Rs 1,334,461 was spent on airfare for the local team, along with approved daily allowances. The Prime Minister affirmed Mauritius's incontestable sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, citing confirmation from the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on February 25, 2019, and the United Nations General Assembly. He noted that no timeline exists for implementing the agreement with the United Kingdom due to a lack of British ratification. A delegation from the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is expected in Port Louis on April 22 for further discussions. Financially, over GBP 408,000, or nearly Rs 24 million, has been disbursed to Withers LLP.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 10 countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
Must ReadLori Chavez-DeRemer, Donald Trump's Labor Secretary, has resigned to take a position in the private sector, as announced by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung. Her departure marks the third cabinet exit in six weeks for the Trump administration, following the forced resignations of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Justice Secretary Pam Bondi. Chavez-DeRemer, 58, who was appointed in March 2025, faced a series of scandals during her 13-month tenure. These include an investigation into an alleged inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, accusations of alcohol consumption in her office, and fraud allegations for supposedly converting official travel into personal trips with family and friends. The White House had previously dismissed these accusations as unfounded in January. Additionally, The New York Times reported three complaints within her ministry from employees alleging a toxic work environment. In February, the New York paper, citing sources and police documents, also reported that her husband, Shawn DeRemer, was banned from the ministry after being accused of sexual assault by at least two employees. Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican from Iowa and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, had also requested explanations from Chavez-DeRemer regarding harassment accusations and inquiries about taking her team to a strip club, as well as documentation for trips to Portland, Las Vegas, and Palm Beach. Despite the controversies, Steven Cheu
The Collectif Arc-En-Ciel CAEC has launched a legal clinic to provide legal support for individuals facing discrimination and violence in Mauritius. This initiative, announced at the Institut français de Maurice IFM in Rose-Hill, comes after the 2023 Supreme Court decision to invalidate Article 250 of the Penal Code, which criminalized same-sex relations. Despite this legal advancement, discriminatory attitudes, violence, and unequal treatment persist, leaving many without clear recourse or adequate support. Dimitry Ah Yu, president of CAEC, stated that the legal clinic is a "lifeline" given the ongoing reality of violence and injustice. The clinic, a partnership between CAEC and the law firm Dentons Mauritius LLP, will offer free, confidential, and accessible legal assistance to LGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The service aims to strengthen access to justice, raise legal awareness within the LGBTQ+ community, document challenges, and identify long-term strategic actions. Priscilla Balgobin-Bhoyrul, Senior Counsel and Senior Partner at Dentons Mauritius, emphasized that the clinic seeks to restore confidence in the legal system, clarify rights, and empower individuals to make informed decisions. Najah A. Ahmed, Deputy Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission NHRC, highlighted that the clinic aims to bridge the gap between legal rights on paper and their practical application. The clinic, which w
Must ReadApple CEO Tim Cook will be succeeded by John Ternus, the current head of physical products, in early September. Cook, 65, will transition to executive chairman of the board. Ternus, 50, was considered a favorite for the role, but the timing of the transition was unexpected. Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, described the change as a "sudden decision." Cook joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in August 2011, following Steve Jobs' resignation. Under Cook's leadership, Apple's revenue nearly quadrupled, and its market capitalization increased thirteenfold to over $4 trillion, making it the world's third-largest company. Cook's personal fortune is now $2.9 billion. While some criticized Cook for not launching products as iconic as the iPod or iPhone, he oversaw the release of the Apple Watch in 2015 and the Vision Pro virtual reality headset in 2024. Cook also significantly grew Apple's services sector, which includes the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, and iCloud, making it the company's primary growth driver. Arthur Levinson, Apple's chairman of the board for 15 years, praised Cook's "exceptional leadership." Cook also demonstrated strong negotiation skills, navigating supply chain issues during the pandemic and geopolitical tensions between the US and China. However, Apple has lagged in generative artificial intelligence, a key area where the company is expected to make announcements at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference WWDC in early June. John Ternus, a
Andre Viljoen, the new Chief Executive Officer of Air Mauritius, has taken charge of the national airline. Through two social media posts, Viljoen provided a frank and unflattering assessment of the company's internal situation.