Mauritius held parliamentary elections on Sunday, with Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth’s ruling party aiming to secure a second five-year term in one of Africa’s most stable democracies.
The election comes amid criticism of Jugnauth’s government for its recent temporary ban on social media platforms. The move followed a wiretapping scandal involving leaked recordings of politicians, business figures, activists, and journalists. Although the ban was lifted after a few days, it raised concerns among opposition leaders and civil society groups.
Over 1 million Mauritians were registered to vote in the country’s 12th election since gaining independence from Britain in 1968. The contest pits Jugnauth’s Militant Socialist Movement (MSM)-led alliance against opposition leader Navin Ramgoolam’s Alliance for Change. Ramgoolam, leader of the Labour Party, cast his vote in Port Louis on election day.
Mauritius, located about 1,240 miles off Africa’s eastern coast, has built a thriving economy based on finance, tourism, and agriculture. Known for its stunning tropical beaches, the island ranks second in Africa on the Human Development Index, trailing only Seychelles. The index measures citizens’ quality of life through indicators like life expectancy, education, and income levels.
Once described by the World Bank as a “beacon of success for sub-Saharan Africa,” Mauritius achieved high-income country status in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its tourism-dependent economy.
Voters are electing 62 lawmakers to Parliament, with the majority party or coalition tasked with forming the government and selecting the prime minister. An additional eight legislators will be nominated by the Electoral Supervisory Council.
