U.S. praises U.K. deal to cede archipelago to Mauritius, retain control of military base

Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The United Kingdom says it has reached a "historic" deal to cede the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean to the Republic of Mauritius, thus surrendering the final colony of Britain's once-sprawling African empire.

In a joint statement issued Thursday by the British and Mauritian governments, the two sides said sovereignty over the Chagos island chain will be transferred to Mauritius, including its largest island, Diego Garcia, which has been home to a highly strategic joint U.S.-British naval base since the 1960s.

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