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ICJ Advisory Opinion on Decolonisation
Shop: Mauritius Post

Category: First Day Cover

First Day Cover
In a historic Advisory Opinion delivered on 25 February 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found 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 from the territory of Mauritius in 1965.

The Court also concluded that the UK is under 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 has demanded that the UK withdraws its unlawful administration from the Chagos Archipelago unconditionally within a period of 6 months.

International Court of Justice - Stamp of Rs 25
Established in 1945, the ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Composed of 15 Judges, it 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 Chagos Archipelago, together with the Islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega, Tromelin and Cargados Carajos, forms an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Mauritius.

Located approximately 2,200 kilometres north-east of the main Island of Mauritius, the Chagos Archipelago has an area of 60 km2 and comprises 58 islands. Its largest atolls are Diego Garcia, Peros Banhos and Salomon Islands. The other islands of the Chagos Archipelago include Nelsons Islands, Danger Island, Eagle Islands, Three Brothers and Egmont Islands.

The UK forcibly removed all the inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago in the wake of its excision from Mauritius.

Souvenir Sheet Issue
A souvenir sheet, comprising the two stamps, is illustrated with the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.

Technical Details:
  • Issuing Postal Operator : The Mauritius Post Ltd
  • Release date : 23 August 2019
  • Theme : ICJ Advisory Opinion on Decolonisation
  • Graphic Works (Stamps, FDC, SS & Insert) : The Mauritius Post Ltd
  • Stamp denomination : Rs 13, Rs 25
  • Format : Portrait (Rs 13) & Landscape (Rs 25)
  • Stamp size : 30 x 45 mm
  • Printer : Southern Colour
  • Watermark : w18 - CASCO
  • Print process : Lithography
  • Number per sheet : Two panes of 25
  • Perforation : 14 x 2 cm
  • Courtesy : International Court of Justice and Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration & Exploration, Ministry of Defence and Rodrigues


Price: Rs 135.00

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