Jugnauth Slams Ramgoolam's London Trip: '2 Weeks Off to Meet an Advisor for 30 Minutes'

Former Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has launched a sharp attack on current Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam over his recent trip to London in connection with the ongoing Chagos Islands sovereignty negotiations. Speaking at a press conference held by the MSM (Militant Socialist Movement — the main opposition party, which Jugnauth leads), he questioned the nature and protocol of the visit, during which Ramgoolam met Jonathan Powell, the UK's National Security Adviser and key figure in the Chagos talks. **"Two weeks of leave to meet an advisor for 30 to 40 minutes"** Jugnauth did not hold back. "Have you ever seen a prime minister of a country travel to another country on a mission just to meet an advisor? Would you ever see a prime minister of a country come to Mauritius just to meet an advisor?" he asked, speaking in Mauritian Creole. He argued that the meeting "discredits the office of Prime Minister," suggesting that Ramgoolam should have met a British minister — or at the very least a member of the UK government — rather than an adviser. According to Jugnauth, if the Chagos dossier is as important as it is, it should have been Jonathan Powell travelling to Mauritius, not the other way around. **Background: The Chagos Islands Deal** The Chagos Islands — officially the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) — have been at the centre of a long-running sovereignty dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. The archipelago, which includes the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base jointly operated by the US and UK, was separated from Mauritius before independence in 1965 — a move the United Nations later ruled was unlawful. Negotiations on a formal transfer of sovereignty have been underway for several years, with multiple rounds of talks and significant diplomatic pressure. Jonathan Powell, a seasoned British diplomat who previously served as Tony Blair's Chief of Staff, was appointed by the UK government to oversee the Chagos negotiations. Mauritius recently issued a public warning to the UK to finalise the deal or face international legal action, signalling growing frustration with the pace of progress. **What This Means** Jugnauth's criticism reflects a broader political battle in Mauritius over who gets credit — or blame — for the handling of the Chagos file. The deal is enormously consequential for Mauritius: it would restore sovereignty over a vast maritime territory, bring significant financial compensation, and cement the country's place in Indian Ocean geopolitics. With negotiations still unresolved, how the government manages diplomatic visits and protocol is being closely scrutinised by the opposition. Jugnauth's remarks suggest the MSM intends to hold Ramgoolam accountable not just on outcomes, but on the optics and dignity of the process. Source: ION News