Navin Ramgoolam ordered an overnight curfew in Mauritius after unrest and protests in Mauritius turned violent on the Indian Ocean island. Police in Mauritius moved to contain riots that began after peaceful protests over water shortages and the high cost of living spread into road blockages, tyre burning and vandalism.
A woman was shot and wounded by police at a roadblock on Friday, then the unrest widened over the weekend. Ramgoolam said: "Those who have carried out these actions will have to face the very heavy consequences warranted by their anti-patriotic acts," after schools and public transport were closed and police stations and other public infrastructure properties were damaged.
Ramgoolam Orders Overnight Curfew
Ramgoolam ordered the curfew on Tuesday. Police in Mauritius said the restriction was aimed at quelling the riots, and by Wednesday morning police said traffic was moving throughout the island. The sequence matters for residents, commuters and workers because the restriction came after the violence had already spread beyond the initial protests.
Police also said the officer involved in the Friday shooting was arrested and remanded in custody. Foreign embassies issued alerts warning their nationals to be cautious, and the disruption hit a tourism and financial services hub that has a $2.2 billion tourism earnings stake in calmer conditions.
Zoë McCathie On 1999
Zoë McCathie, an analyst at Signal Risk, said protests to this scale and extent had not been seen since around 1999. She also said water shortages were expected to persist until the rainy season in December, which keeps the original grievance in place even as the streets quieten.
McCathie said: "Protests to this scale and to this extent haven't been seen… since around 1999. So the government's response to this in that case is logical and is necessary," on the 's Newsday programme. That assessment leaves the cabinet with a narrow task on Wednesday afternoon: reassess the situation and decide whether the curfew, policing and other steps need to continue.
Wednesday Afternoon Cabinet Meeting
Despite the curfew, police said there had been several incidents overnight and some arrests were made. That leaves a practical question for people across Mauritius: whether Wednesday’s cabinet discussion brings tighter controls, a partial easing, or a broader response to the unrest that began with water shortages and a higher cost of living.
