Situation Reports Archives - State Succession Index

Chagos Archipelago: Navigating Complexity After the 2025 UK–Mauritius Agreement

July 2025 Summary The 2025 UK–Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago presents a complex case of state succession, wherein sovereignty is formally transferred to Mauritius while the United Kingdom retains extensive control over Diego Garcia for military purposes. Although this territorial transfer does not alter the legal personality of either...

Alberta Considers Referendum on Separation from Canada

On 6 May 2025, Canada’s Alberta Province Premier Danielle Smith announced that the oil-rich province Alberta could hold its first-ever referendum on independence in 2026.[1] In her speech Premier Smith said: “To be clear from the outset, our government will not be putting a vote on separation from Canada on the referendum ballot; however,...

Indirect Recognition of Cyprus’s Territorial Integrity by Central Asian Republics at the EU–Central Asia Summit

April 2025. During the inaugural European Union – Central Asia Summit held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 3–4 April 2025, the five Central Asian republics – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – signed a joint declaration[1] reaffirming their commitment to the principles of international law, including respect for the sovereignty,...

Kenya’s Recognition of Kosovo highlights challenges in State Succession framework

19 April 2025. On 26 March 2025, Kenya officially recognised Kosovo as an independent State, marking the first such recognition of Kosovo in nearly five years. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo “welcome[d] Kenya’s decision to recognize the Republic of Kosova,”[1] confirming that the...

Greenland moves to negotiated independence while strengthening its ties with Denmark

7 April 2025. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called for increased Arctic defence collaboration with the United States during a visit to Greenland on 3 April 2025, and firmly dismissed the US desire to annex the semi-autonomous Danish territory. “This is not only about Greenland or Denmark, this is about...

Chagos Archipelago: US President signs off UK’s handover of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

7 April 2025. US President Donald Trump has signed off on the UK’s handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, as Downing Street has indicated, paving the way for the UK to cede sovereignty over its last African colony after a six-month standoff [1]. A spokesperson for British Prime Minister...

Bougainville: Despite PNG’s Prime Minister not committing to backing Bougainville’s independence, both sides are engaging in peaceful dialogue

7 April 2025. Bougainville Independence Leaders Consultation Forum has passed key resolutions and recommended 1 September 2027 as the date for Bougainville’s independence on 11 March 2025 meeting [1]. The Forum goes further to say that the Papua New Guinea (PNG) national government holds no authority to veto the referendum...