标签： Africa

The UK government is vigorously defending its controversial agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius despite mounting criticism from US President Donald Trump and opposition within Parliament. Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty asserted the government “remains confident” the arrangement represents the “best way forward” while accusing Conservative peers of employing “parliamentary stunts” to sabotage the legislation.

The diplomatic tension escalated dramatically last week when President Trump denounced the agreement as a “great act of stupidity,” despite his administration having previously accepted the terms. The criticism has injected new complexity into the already contentious parliamentary process, where the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill is currently engaged in legislative ‘ping-pong’ between the House of Commons and Lords.

Conservative opposition, led by shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, has seized on Trump’s comments to demand a pause in proceedings, labeling the government’s approach as “Labour’s Chagos surrender humiliation.” The opposition contends that proceeding with the current legislation would violate a 1966 UK-US treaty governing the islands and has demanded renegotiation with American authorities before further parliamentary consideration.

At the heart of the agreement lies the future of Diego Garcia, which hosts a strategically critical joint US-UK military base. Under the proposed terms, the UK would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while paying approximately £101 million annually for 99 years to lease back the military installation—a arrangement Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer estimates will have a net cost of £3.4 billion after accounting for inflation.

The government maintains that international legal rulings favoring Mauritius’ claim have necessitated the sovereignty transfer, while simultaneously emphasizing the commitment to preserve the military base’s operational security. Doughty confirmed ongoing daily engagement with US officials regarding national security matters and outlined prerequisites for ratification, including updating the 1966 agreement and implementing environmental and security arrangements.

Parliamentary dissent has emerged from multiple fronts, with Labour MP Dan Carden questioning the abandonment of sovereignty and Liberal Democrats proposing amendments to pause proceedings until US positioning is clarified. The government has postponed further Lords debate following Conservative amendments citing “changing geopolitical circumstances,” setting the stage for continued political confrontation over this strategically significant territory.

In a significant demonstration of diplomatic resilience, Morocco and Senegal have reaffirmed their bilateral commitment through the signing of seventeen comprehensive agreements, effectively transcending recent tensions arising from a contentious soccer match. The signing ceremony, held in Rabat on Monday, witnessed both nations’ prime ministers formalizing enhanced cooperation across multiple economic sectors including agricultural development, infrastructure projects, fisheries management, and mineral resource extraction.

This diplomatic initiative follows the turbulent Africa Cup of Nations final that previously strained relations between the two African nations. The match, won by Senegal 1-0, was marred by on-field protests from Senegalese players and attempted field invasions by spectators. Subsequent weeks saw Moroccan rights organizations documenting increased hate speech, which both governments have characterized as emotional reactions rather than substantive political divisions.

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko emphasized the enduring nature of bilateral relations during the opening of the Moroccan-Senegalese joint commission, stating: ‘These excesses must be understood as emotional outbursts produced by fervor rather than political or cultural rifts. The friendship between Morocco and Senegal transcends temporary emotions.’

The economic foundation of this relationship remains particularly robust. Senegal, as a heavily indebted West African nation, considers Morocco among its foremost African investors, with substantial Moroccan capital flowing into Senegalese banking institutions, energy infrastructure, and agricultural enterprises. Conversely, Senegal serves as a crucial export market for Moroccan goods, with trade volumes exceeding $200 million in 2024 alone.

Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch highlighted the relationship’s ‘solid foundations,’ noting both nations remain ‘faithful to the spirit of brotherhood, solidarity and mutual respect.’ The agreements strategically align with Morocco’s broader continental expansion strategy while supporting Senegal’s foreign investment attraction objectives. Additionally, religious connections through the Tijaniyya Sufi order, which maintains significant Senegalese membership in Morocco, further strengthen cultural bonds between the two nations.

Sixteen Nigerian military officers will face court-martial proceedings over allegations of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government last year, according to an official armed forces statement. The officers, arrested in October following what authorities described as “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations,” are now formally charged with attempting to subvert the constitutional order.

While military officials initially dismissed rumors of an attempted coup, subsequent investigations have led to acknowledging that some of the detained officers will undergo trial before a military judicial panel. The armed forces emphasized that the judicial process would uphold principles of fairness and due process while ensuring accountability.

This development occurs against Nigeria’s complex historical backdrop of military involvement in politics, which included multiple successful coups between 1966 and 1993. The sensitivity surrounding coup allegations reflects the nation’s transition to sustained civilian governance since 1999.

The military statement explicitly condemned any attempts to unseat elected government as “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards” of Nigeria’s armed forces. Recent years have seen occasional rumors about military dissent amid concerns over national instability, security challenges, and public frustration—all of which the military has consistently denied.

Nigeria’s armed forces have repeatedly publicly reaffirmed their commitment to democratic governance and loyalty to civilian authority throughout the current period of uninterrupted civilian rule.