Mauritius imposes overnight curfew after worst riots in decades
Mauritius has imposed an overnight curfew after protests over water shortages and the high cost of living escalated into the worst riots the island has seen in decades. The unrest, which began as peaceful demonstrations a week earlier, turned violent on Friday after a woman was shot and wounded by police at a roadblock. Police stations and other public infrastructure were vandalised as protesters burned tyres and blocked roads.
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Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam ordered the curfew on Tuesday and warned against people he said were acting against the interests of the country. In an address to the nation, he said those responsible would face very heavy consequences for what he described as anti-patriotic acts. The circumstances of the shooting remain unclear, but the officer involved has been arrested and remanded in custody.
The disorder has disrupted daily life across the island, with schools and public transport closed during the unrest. Foreign embassies issued alerts urging their nationals to be cautious, underlining the wider concern caused by the violence. Police said there were several incidents overnight despite the curfew, along with some arrests, although by Wednesday morning traffic was moving again throughout the island.
The crisis matters because Mauritius is a tourism and financial services hub, and prolonged instability could affect both public confidence and economic activity. The unrest also highlights pressure on basic services, particularly water supply, which had been a trigger for the original protests. An analyst cited the situation as unusual for the country's security environment and said the government's decision to close schools and impose a curfew was logical and necessary.
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The protests began over shortages of water, and the government had initially responded by providing more water to households. But the escalation over the weekend broadened the challenge for authorities, who are now trying to contain disorder while also addressing the underlying grievances. The analyst said protests on this scale had not been seen since around 1999, suggesting the current unrest is among the most serious public-order tests in years.
What happens next will depend on whether the curfew and police response hold the situation in check and whether further demonstrations emerge in areas still affected by shortages. The cabinet is due to meet on Wednesday afternoon to reassess the situation and decide on the next steps. Water shortages are expected to persist until the rainy season in December, leaving open the risk of renewed unrest if conditions do not improve.
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