In brief
Mauritius has experienced its worst civil unrest in decades following a woman’s shooting by police amid protests over water shortages and rising living costs. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam imposed an overnight curfew to restore order, noting that dissenters would face heavy consequences. Despite the curfew, police reported further incidents and arrests, but traffic resumed by Wednesday. Analysts say the unrest could return once water shortages persist until the rainy season, with the government scheduled to reassess the situation in a cabinet meeting.
Police in Mauritius imposed an overnight curfew to calm the worst riots on the island in decades. The unrest, sparked by protests over water shortages and high cost of living, escalated last Friday when a woman was shot and wounded at a police roadblock. The circumstances of the shooting remain unclear, and the officer involved has been arrested and remanded in custody.
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who ordered the curfew on Tuesday, warned against those “acting against the interests of the country” and declared that those who carried out the violent acts would face serious consequences. The protests, which involved burning tyres and roadblocks, saw vandalism of police stations and public infrastructure.
In response, schools and public transport were closed, and foreign embassies issued cautionary alerts. Police reported several incidents and arrests overnight, but by Wednesday morning traffic had largely resumed. Analysts noted that although the extremes of unrest had been quelled, the possibility of further protests remained as water shortages are expected to last until December.
The cabinet will convene on Wednesday afternoon to review the situation and determine further steps.
