Pope’s visit boosts Mauritian hope to get back UK islands

PORT LOUIS, September 9 

Pope Francis wrapped up his trip to Africa on Monday with a lightning visit to Mauritius, saying Mass for 100,000 people and giving hope to a movement that wants Britain to return a group of islands.

In greetings after the Mass to various delegations,  Francis referred to an archipelago contested between Britain and Mauritius as the Chagos, instead of by its British name - the British Indian Ocean Territory, or BIOT.

“This represents an important step forward in our fight to recognise the sovereignty of the Republic of Mauritius over the Chagos archipelago,” a senior source in Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth’s office told Reuters.

Britain, which has overseen the region since 1814, detached the Chagos islands in 1965 from Mauritius to create the British Indian Ocean Territory, three years before granting Mauritius independence.

The Chagos archipelago includes the island of Diego Garcia, which Britain leases to the United States and which is home to an air base jointly used by Britain and the United States. — Reuters