UN Asks International Court of Justice to Consider Territorial Dispute Between U.K. and Mauritius, Over U.K. Objection

"In a setback for the United Kingdom, the General Assembly voted Tuesday to seek an opinion from the top U.N. court on Mauritius' claim that Britain illegally maintains sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, where the United States has a major military base in the Indian Ocean.

The resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice was strongly backed by African and nonaligned nations, winning approval on a vote of 94-15 with 65 abstentions.

The loss for Britain came as it begins negotiations to leave the European Union, and there was a lack of support for the UK from the 27 other EU members. Cyprus voted in favor of the court referral and 22 EU nations, including Germany, France and Italy abstained. Only Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Lithuania voted against the measure in support of Britain...

Rycroft accused Mauritius of circumventing 'a vital principle' that a country isn't obliged to have a bilateral dispute submitted for a judicial settlement without its consent - 'and let me be clear: we do not and we would not give that consent, because we are clear about what was agreed with Mauritius.'

The resolution asks the International Court of Justice two questions: Was the process of decolonization of Mauritius lawfully completed in 1968. What are the consequences under international law of the UK's continued administration, including with respect to the inability to resettle Chagos residents on the islands?

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Michele Sison strongly backed the UK, warning that establishing a precedent of going to the court 'is dangerous for all U.N. member states.'

The International Court of Justice needs to consider 'whether it would be appropriate for it to respond to this request,' Sison said. 'In our view it would not.'"