Historically, the islands were uninhabited, but from 1721 they were occupied by the French East India Company, which brought African slaves to work on sugar plantations. In the 19th century, Mauritius came under the control of the British, from whom it gained its independence in 1968. However, it has been embroiled in a 60-year dispute with the United Kingdom (UK) over who has sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago, claimed by the UK as part of the British Indian Ocean Territory. Mauritius (and Chagossians) have challenged Britain’s claim to Chagos as unlawful and incomplete decolonisation.

With diverse ethnic and religious communities, identity is a key factor that shapes politics in Mauritius. Among the Indian, Creole, Chinese, and French communities, Mauritians of Indian origin are dominant in politics and business, and wealthy Indians continue to move to Mauritius each year. Mauritian Creoles, who reflect mixtures of African, French and Indian origins, are regularly subject to discrimination and often live in segregated housing. In terms of religion, Hindus are almost half the population, followed by Catholics and Muslims. Both religion and casteism are reflected in political rhetoric, campaigning, and party organisation.  

Although progress has been made in advancing women’s rights, significant gender gaps remain in political leadership and in the labour force. Gender-based violence is a pressing issue. Tolerance of homosexuality in Mauritius is among the highest on the continent and in 2023 the country’s Supreme Court decriminalised same-sex sexual activity.    

Mauritius has long been upheld as a strong example of democratic governance in Africa. In recent years, however, critics have pointed to electoral irregularities, dissatisfaction with dynastic governance, and corruption as priority issues for the government to address. Although protest has been uncommon, the country has seen a wave of protests  on issues related to corruption and fraud, the government’s response to an oil-spill, and the rising costs of living in the Creole-dominant area, Camp-Levieux, that has been hard-hit by inflation and price increases. Media freedom is also at risk, with a polarized media landscape and increasing online attacks against journalists.

Looking ahead, the upcoming general election and proposed electoral reforms mean that it will be important to watch Credible Elections and Free Political Parties. Persistent concerns among media activists about Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression in the country indicate that these remain important areas to monitor, particularly progress towards the passage of a long-awaited Freedom of Information Act. Finally, Gender Equality should also be watched, with a draft Gender Equality bill set to establish a legal framework to accelerate general equality in the social, economic and political spheres.  

Last updated: August 2024