Republic of Mauritius- Prime Minister launches first day cover, stamps and souvenir sheet on ICJ Advisory Opinion on Decolonisation

In his keynote address, Prime Minister Jugnauth stated that the issue of the first day cover, the stamps and the souvenir sheet by the Mauritius Post Ltd commemorate the significant milestone on the historic Advisory Opinion delivered on 25 February 2019 whereby the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the decolonisation of Mauritius was not lawfully completed upon its accession to independence in 1968, in view of the unlawful excision of the Chagos Archipelago by the United Kingdom (UK) from the territory of Mauritius in 1965. 

The Prime Minister reaffirmed his profound gratitude for the support Mauritius received with regard to the Draft Resolution A/73/L84/Rev1 pertaining to the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ on the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. He further underlined that the stamps pay tribute to the ICJ for promoting the rule of law.

First Day Cover

The First Day Cover showcases the theme “ICJ Advisory Opinion on Decolonisation”. It is recalled that the ICJ concluded that the UK has an obligation to end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible and that all Member States must cooperate with the United Nations to complete the decolonisation of Mauritius. In a resolution adopted on 22 May 2019, the UN General Assembly demanded that the UK withdraws its unlawful administration from the Chagos Archipelago unconditionally within a period of six months. 

International Court of Justice – Stamp of Rs 25

The stamp illustrates the ICJ as the principal judicial organ of the UN. It is composed of 15 Judges and has its seat at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. Apart from settling legal disputes submitted to it by States, the ICJ may give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised UN organs and specialised agencies. 

Islands of Chagos Archipelago – stamp of Rs 13

The stamp portrays the Chagos Archipelago, together with the Islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega, Tromelin and Cargados Carajos, which forms an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Mauritius. The UK forcibly removed all the inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago in the wake of its excision from Mauritius.