Mauritius imposes curfew as worst riots in decades escalate over police shooting

Mauritius is experiencing its most severe civil unrest in decades following the police shooting of a 27-year-old woman on October 9. Elodie Thomas was shot and wounded by a police officer at a roadblock in the capital region while travelling home from work. The officer has been arrested and remanded in custody, with an investigation underway into the circumstances of the shooting. Thomas underwent surgery to remove the bullet, performed by Indian surgeons flown in to assist.

Peaceful protests that began on October 7 over water shortages and rising cost of living escalated dramatically following the shooting. Demonstrators have blocked roads, burned tyres, vandalized police stations and shops, and set fires to vehicles. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam imposed an overnight curfew on Tuesday, initially announced for 8:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time in Port Louis and major population centres. The curfew was later adjusted to end at 5:00 a.m. The government has also closed all schools and suspended public transportation services, with buses ceasing operations at 6:00 p.m. local time.

The unrest represents an exceptional challenge for Mauritius, which ranks as Africa's most peaceful country and 18th globally according to the 2026 Global Peace Index. The last comparable wave of major unrest occurred in 1999. Analysts note that while the government initially responded proactively to water shortage protests by distributing additional water to households, the scale and intensity of the current violence is unusual for the country's security situation. The escalation threatens the nation's tourism and financial services sectors, with tourism contributing 14–15% of GDP and generating $2.2 billion in revenue in 2025.

Prime Minister Ramgoolam warned that those responsible for the violence "will have to face the very heavy consequences warranted by their anti-patriotic acts." Despite the curfew, police reported several incidents overnight and arrests. The cabinet was scheduled to meet on Wednesday to reassess the situation and decide on next steps. Analysts suggest that while the worst of the unrest may be curtailing, protests could return in some areas, as water shortages are expected to persist until the December rainy season.