In brief
A police shooting of a protester during a water‑shortage demonstration sparked the island’s worst riots since the 1990s. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam imposed an overnight curfew to restore order, and police arrested the officer involved. Violent clashes destroyed property, closed schools and halted public transport. Authorities pledged that conditions would improve after the rainy season and warned that unrest could recur.
Police in Mauritius imposed an overnight curfew to quell the worst riots the island has seen in decades.
Peaceful protests over water shortages and the high cost of living began a week ago and erupted into violence on Friday when a woman was shot and wounded at a roadblock.
The circumstances of the shooting remain unclear, but the officer has since been arrested and remanded in custody.
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam declared the curfew on Tuesday, warning that those acting against the country’s interests would face heavy consequences. He described the protests as “anti‑patriotic acts.”
Protesters burned tires, blocked roads and vandalised police stations and other public infrastructure as unrest spread over the weekend.
Schools and public transport were closed, and foreign embassies issued travel warnings for their nationals.
Despite the curfew, police reported several incidents overnight and made additional arrests. By Wednesday morning, traffic had resumed and officials urged the public to return to normal activities.
Analysts say that while the government's prompt actions curbed the worst of the violence, the underlying water shortage—which is expected to persist until the rainy season—could reignite protests. The cabinet will meet later to reassess the situation and decide on further steps.
