Prominent legal organisations have recently presented a significant challenge to the ongoing presence of British military installations on Cypriot territory. These groups unequivocally denounce the bases as an unwelcome "colonial legacy." Representatives from the European Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDHR) and the Cyprus Democratic Lawyers Association (CDLA) jointly declared on Saturday that the bases, established in 1960 as a condition for the island's independence, were imposed without the genuine consent of the Cypriot people. They assert that Britain's claims of sovereignty over these areas are both legally invalid and politically illegitimate.
The organisations' criticism is deeply rooted in the historical circumstances surrounding the bases' establishment. Upon gaining independence from British rule, the United Kingdom retained the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The ELDHR and CDLA argue that this arrangement was not a result of self-determination but rather represented "imperialism in a new legal form." They firmly believe the bases embody an outdated extension of colonial power. Furthermore, they contend that these enclaves disrupt Cypriot territory and leave the island, and its inhabitants, susceptible to external conflicts, thereby compromising national security and territorial integrity.
In a strong appeal, the legal associations have urged the Cypriot government to discontinue its acceptance of the bases' existence. They are advocating for a clear and definitive plan to be developed with the United Kingdom concerning their eventual decommissioning and withdrawal, emphasizing Cyprus' inherent rights under international law. This plea emerges amidst differing viewpoints on the issue. Notably, former Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades had previously adopted a more cautious stance, suggesting that discussions about the bases' future were premature. He believed such talks should ideally be integrated with a comprehensive political resolution to the wider Cyprus problem.
While acknowledging the potential influence of the International Court of Justice's 2019 advisory opinion on the Chagos archipelago, which deemed the detachment of territory for a military base contrary to international law, Anastasiades also alluded to the UK's historical reluctance to fully support Cypriot positions. This sentiment is shared by the current legal groups, who draw a parallel between the Chagos situation and the current status of the Cypriot bases. They suggest that international legal precedents now offer a stronger basis for contesting their legitimacy. A 2014 agreement, facilitated during former British Prime Minister David Cameron's tenure, had allowed for the return of certain land parcels within the bases for development, a move perceived by some as a minor concession.
However, the ELDHR and CDLA maintain that such limited measures fail to address the core issue. They firmly believe that "Cyprus has every right to challenge this colonial legacy in international forums and demand complete decolonisation." Their advocacy highlights the persistent legal and political consequences of post-colonial arrangements. It signals a growing determination within Cypriot civil society to regain full sovereignty over all its territory, free from the remnants of imperial history. The responsibility now lies with the Cypriot government to carefully consider these arguments and to establish a path that aligns with the aspiration for genuine decolonisation.