THE Mauritian flag was raised for first time on the British-occupied Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean today in a ceremony led by the country’s ambassador to the United Nations.

A pre-recorded message from Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth was broadcast via a loud speaker on the island of Peros Banhos and another flag was raised on the Salomon atoll.

“The message I wish to give out to the world, as the state with sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, is that we will ensure a wise stewardship of its territory — over its maritime security, conservation of the marine environment and human rights, notably the return of those of Chagossian origin,” Mr Jugnauth said.

Mauritian ambassador to the UN Jagdish Koonjul said: “We are performing the symbolic act of raising the flag as the British have done so many times to establish colonies. We, however, are reclaiming what has always been our own.”

A group of exiled Chagossians expelled from the islands some 50 years ago were part of the delegation, along with scientists, who arrived on a ship that set sail from Mauritius last week.

The Chagos archipelago was separated from Mauritius in 1965, when it was still a British colony.

Britain purchased it for £3 million but Mauritius claimed that it was pressed into the sale, which was made in return for independence.

The British government evicted the entire population of the islands before inviting the US to build a military base on Diego Garcia.

In May 2019 the UN’s International Court of Justice ruled that Britain should leave the Chagos Islands “as rapidly as possible.”

But an official statement from the British Foreign Office said: “This is an advisory opinion, not a judgement.”