Mauritius’ government recently shut down social media access in the lead-up to the November 10, 2024 general election. This unprecedented move, reversed within 24 hours following local and international backlash, shocked many as Mauritius is often regarded as a democratic model in Africa. The ban was triggered by leaked audio clips allegedly involving the prime minister, police commissioner, ministers, and judiciary members discussing topics such as police brutality and institutional interference. These sensitive conversations, initially dismissed by the prime minister as AI-manipulated, continued to spread online, prompting authorities to impose the ban under the justification of “national security.”
The social media shutdown marks the first such ban in Mauritius. However, concerns about digital freedoms have been growing in the island nation, despite a national strategic plan aiming for digital advancement and inclusivity by 2030. The latest Ibrahim Index of African Governance shows a significant 21.7% decline in Mauritius’ digital freedom over the last decade, positioning it 25th out of 54 African countries. Moreover, recent legislation on cybersecurity and cybercrime has criminalized certain activities on social media, further tightening control over digital expression. With over 85% of the population using Facebook, social media is central to news dissemination and public discourse in Mauritius, so this clampdown is particularly impactful.
The social media ban also highlights broader concerns over media freedom and the state of democracy in Mauritius. Over the last decade, there has been a steady erosion of democratic rights and freedoms, especially since 2019, with numerous projects aiming to control data and monitor citizens. For example, the Mauritius Safe City project introduced 4,000 cameras with facial recognition capabilities across the island, ostensibly to enhance security. However, many citizens worry this technology infringes on their political rights and civil liberties. In 2021, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority sought to amend the law to increase social media regulation, but this proposal faced substantial local and international resistance for its potential to enable extensive control over online content.
In 2023, the government introduced mandatory SIM card re-registration, threatening deactivation for unregistered users. This move raised privacy concerns and led to a court case now pending in the Mauritian supreme court. These initiatives are part of a broader crackdown on digital spaces, limiting freedom of speech and creating a climate of self-censorship. Journalists and citizens who criticize the government online have faced harassment and even arrest under the Information and Communication Technologies Act (2001). This act, often applied to silence dissent, has significantly restricted digital freedom, leaving journalists more vulnerable to prosecution and monitoring.
Media outlets in Mauritius face additional pressures through heavy fines, requirements to disclose sources, and annual licensing renewals—an increase from every three years to every year. These restrictions have driven many journalists toward self-censorship and prevented critical reporting, with some journalists reportedly harassed or barred from government press events.
International assessments reflect Mauritius’ democratic decline. The country has fallen from its former status as a liberal democracy to being classified as an electoral autocracy, a regime type where the government maintains tight control over political power and limits true democratic processes. The Ibrahim Index of African Governance currently lists Mauritius as showing “increasing deterioration” in democratic governance, underscoring a worrying trend in a country once viewed as a beacon of democracy in Africa.
