UN court rules UK has no sovereignty over Chagos islands

It criticised London for its failure to hand the territory back to Mauritius.

• Andrew Harding
• ΒΒC

The judges’ decision confirms a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and a vote in the UN General Assembly.

The Indian Ocean archipelago includes a US military base. The UK has said it will hand the islands back when they’re no longer needed for defence purposes.

In response to the ruling, a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office said: “The UK has no doubt as to our sovereignty over the…