UNIÃO AFRICANA

AFRICAN UNION	         UNION AFRICAINE
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 	website: www.au.int

RESOLUTION ON CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO 
Doc. EX.CL/901(XXVII)
Decision No: Assembly/AU/Res.1(XXV)

The Assembly,

Recalling the unlawful excision of the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, from the territory of Mauritius by the United Kingdom, the former colonial power, prior to the independence of Mauritius, in violation of international law and UN Resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 2066 (XX) of 16 December 1965 which prohibit colonial powers from dismembering colonial territories prior to granting independence, as well as UN Resolutions 2232 (XXI) of 20 December 1966 and 2357(XXII) of 19 December 1967;

Reaffirming that the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, forms an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Mauritius;

Deploring the continued unlawful occupation by the United Kingdom of the Chagos Archipelago, thereby denying the Republic of Mauritius the exercise of its sovereignty over the Archipelago and making the decolonization of Africa incomplete;

Recalling in this regard, inter alia:

	i)	Resolution Assembly/AU/Res. 1 (XVI) of January 2011 of the 			Assembly of the African Union held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;

	ii)	the Malabo Declaration adopted by the Third Africa-South America 		Summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in February 2013;

	iii)	Declaration Assembly/AU/Decl.1 (XXI) of May 2013 of the Assembly 		of the African Union held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;

	iv)	the Solemn Declaration on the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU 			adopted by 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African 		Union held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in May 2013.

Reiterating its grave concern that the United Kingdom purported to establish a
„marine protected area’ („MPA’) around the Chagos Archipelago, in a manner that was inconsistent with its international legal obligations and which further impeded the exercise by the Republic of Mauritius of its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago;

Noting that the purported „MPA’ has been ruled to be illegal by the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the case brought by the Government of the Republic of Mauritius on 20 December 2010 against the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

Welcoming the confirmation by two members of the Arbitral Tribunal that the Republic of Mauritius is the “coastal State” in relation to the Chagos Archipelago;

Considering that the Government of the Republic of Mauritius is resolutely committed to taking all appropriate measures for the effective exercise by the Republic of Mauritius of its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, in keeping with the principles of international law:

1.	WELCOMES the Award of the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Annex VII to 	the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is binding on the 	United Kingdom, and the confirmation that the purported „MPA’ has been 	unlawfully established under international law;

2.	REAFFIRMS that the United Kingdom is not to be treated as the “coastal 	State” in relation to the Chagos Archipelago and that any attempt by the 	United Kingdom to claim such a status in any international forum is to be 	treated as contrary to international law and opposed;

3.	REITERATES its support to the Republic of Mauritius in its legitimate pursuit 	to effectively exercise its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including 	Diego Garcia;

4.	RENEWS its call on the United Kingdom to expeditiously end its unlawful 	occupation of the Chagos Archipelago with a view to enabling the Republic of 	Mauritius to effectively exercise its sovereignty over the Archipelago;

5.	URGES the United Kingdom, pending the return of the Chagos Archipelago to 	the effective control of the Republic of Mauritius, not to take any measures or 	decisions that might affect the interests of the Republic of Mauritius without 	the latter’s full prior involvement, in accordance with the Award of the Arbitral 	Tribunal and international law; and

6.	FULLY SUPPORTS further efforts and actions in accordance with 	international law, including those of a diplomatic and legal nature at the level 	of the United Nations system, which may be taken by the Government of the 	Republic of Mauritius for the early and unconditional return of the Chagos 	Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, to the effective control of the Republic of 	Mauritius.