Washington considers bypassing London to acquire Diego Garcia from Port Louis
via Le Mauricien6 min read
Washington is reportedly considering bypassing London to directly negotiate with Port Louis for the purchase of Diego Garcia, according to the Daily Telegraph. This development comes as political and diplomatic discussions around the Chagos Deal, which had been dormant since January 20, are being revived. The Daily Telegraph, citing White House sources, indicates that "the White House is considering a plan to buy the Chagos Islands from Mauritius." This potential move is seen as an option for Washington to counter the Chagos Deal agreed upon between London and Port Louis in May 2025, which is awaiting Royal Assent. Reuters, citing American sources, notes that President Trump has consistently maintained that the United Kingdom should not cede the British Indian Ocean Territory, which includes the joint U.S.-UK military facility on the Diego Garcia atoll. American officials emphasize Diego Garcia's strategic importance in the Indian Ocean for U.S. national security, especially given current instability in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Olivier Bancoult, leader of the Chagos Refugees Group, concluded a tour in London to advocate for the Chagos Deal's provisions. During his five-day mission to the UK, Bancoult met with members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, where he presented a plea regarding the archipelago's future and the rights of its people. He denounced what he views as the political instrumentalization of their struggle, stating, "We have watched with profoun
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Mauritius's population includes more women than men, a trend observed since 1990, though men outnumber women in age groups under 50. Women in Mauritius have a life expectancy of 78 years, compared to 70.7 years for men. The country ranks 111th out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index. The average age for women to marry has increased to 32, up from 30.8 in 2015, while the marriage rate has decreased from 18.4 in 2005 to 12.4 in 2025. Divorce rates are rising, from 1.8 in 2005 to 4.8 in 2025, with women initiating 32.6% of cases. The highest number of divorces occur between 5 and 10 years of marriage. Fertility rates continue to decline, with the highest fertility now seen in women aged 30-34, a shift from the 25-29 age group in 2005. Contraception center visits have decreased. Women also face higher unemployment rates at 7.6% compared to 4.3% for men, despite higher educational attainment among unemployed women. The number of women living in relative poverty is 52,400, slightly more than men at 48,800. Domestic violence cases increased from 5,758 in 2024 to 7,562 in 2025, with women being victims in 6,478 cases. Verbal violence accounts for 49.9% of cases, followed by physical violence at 42.5%. Child abuse cases also rose, with girls being more affected. In education, girls show better performance in higher education, with 63% of higher education students being female in 2025, up from 31.1% in 2005. The number of new HIV cases among young people is increasing, with
Bollywood singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya is scheduled to perform a single concert on Saturday, July 25, at the Swami Vivekananda Centre in Pailles, Mauritius. The event, organized by Inbox Events as part of his 90鈥檚 Golden Era Tour, marks Bhattacharya's first commercial concert in Mauritius. He is known for hits like "Chalte Chalte," "Main Hoon Naa," and "Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon," which were prominent in the 1990s alongside songs by Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan. The concert aims to evoke nostalgia and emotions, featuring a revival of his timeless 90s hits. Inbox Events, which has previously brought artists such as Sonu Nigam, Hansraj Raghuwanshi, and Kailash Kher to Mauritius, has entrusted Bhattacharya with taking the audience on this musical journey. The first part of the concert will feature a performance by Mauritian artist Varsharanee Bissessur-Doolooa, who will pay tribute to Asha Bhosle. Varsharanee Bissessur-Doolooa, a Senior Lecturer at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute and the Rabindranath Tagore Institute, and president of the Bhojpuri Speaking Union, will perform timeless songs such as "Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko" and "Yeh Ladki Hai Allah." The concert production is handled by Ichos Productions, with ten musicians performing live on stage. Bhattacharya is expected to arrive on Thursday, July 23. Organizers have confirmed that air conditioning will be set for optimal comfort. Tickets are available for purchase through Otayo and moticket.mu, starting from Rs 850, with
Must ReadThe Financial Crimes Commission FCC is set to question former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, former Attorney General Maneesh Gobin, and potentially former Minister Alan Ganoo next week as part of an 18-month investigation into a Rs 30 billion USD 691.4 million oil procurement contract. The contract, awarded by the State Trading Corporation STC to the Mercantile & Maritime Group, is under scrutiny for alleged irregularities. The FCC suspects that these "High Profile Political Figures" from the government prior to November 10, 2024, may have been involved in procedures that favored the Mercantile & Maritime Group's unsolicited bid. This development follows the provisional indictments of two other former ministers from the 2019-2024 MSM government: former Grand Argentier Renganaden Padayachy and former Minister of Commerce Soodesh Callichurn, both accused of Public Official Using Office for Gratification. Renganaden Padayachy was recently questioned again, with the FCC suspecting he communicated information to Pravind Jugnauth regarding the case. The investigation began officially in January 2025, with forensic analysis of seized phones revealing communications between various individuals involved. Kareena Neisius, local representative and director of MMG in Mauritius, was arrested on April 28, 2025, and provisionally charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Rajiv Servansingh, former General Manager of the STC, was arrested on June 13, 2025, and provisionally charge