Mauritius reels from worst riots in decades after woman shot by police

What the report says

Mauritius is facing its most serious unrest in decades after protests that began over water shortages and the high cost of living turned violent, according to BBC Africa. The government imposed an overnight curfew after days of disorder, with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam warning that those acting against the country’s interests would face consequences.

BBC Africa reported that the unrest escalated on Friday after a woman was shot and wounded by police at a roadblock. The reasons for the shooting were not immediately clear, but the officer involved has been arrested and remanded in custody. Over the weekend, protesters burned tyres, blocked roads and damaged police stations and other public buildings, prompting closures of schools and public transport.

The island’s authorities said there were still some incidents and arrests overnight despite the curfew, though by Wednesday morning traffic had resumed and officials urged residents to return to normal activities. Foreign embassies also issued safety alerts. In commentary cited by BBC Africa, an analyst said the scale of the protests had not been seen since around 1999, and noted that water shortages could continue until the rainy season later in the year. The cabinet was due to meet again to review the situation.