Mauritius holds elections amid wiretapping scandal

Mauritius will hold its national election on Sunday, with Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth seeking a second term as leader of a nation often regarded as one of Africa’s success stories.

Located approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) off the eastern coast of Africa, Mauritius is widely praised for its stability and thriving economy, bolstered by finance, tourism, and agriculture since gaining independence from Britain in 1968. The island nation has earned a reputation as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

At 62, Jugnauth has been prime minister since 2017, taking over from his father. His party, the center-left Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), led an alliance to secure a majority in Parliament in 2019, solidifying his leadership. The MSM has been in power since 2009, frequently forming alliances with other parties to contest elections.

This weekend, Jugnauth’s five-party People’s Alliance will face off against the opposition’s Alliance for Change, led by former Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam. Voters will choose representatives for 62 parliamentary seats, with the majority party or alliance selecting the next prime minister. An additional eight lawmakers are appointed by the Electoral Supervisory Council.

Mauritius, once a sugar plantation colony, has been hailed by the World Bank as a “beacon of success for sub-Saharan Africa,” noting its remarkable economic growth since independence. Though the COVID-19 pandemic briefly halted its momentum, the country was once rated as a high-income nation and still boasts one of the highest living standards in Africa. With a population of just over 1 million, Mauritius ranks second in Africa on the Human Development Index, behind Seychelles, due to its high quality of life, including life expectancy, education, and income levels.

The country’s strong Indian influence is reflected in its population, with over 60% of Mauritians of Indian descent. The main language spoken is Mauritian Creole, a French-based language with English and other influences.

Mauritius has also attracted significant foreign investment, thanks to its political stability and strong governance. According to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, this has led to improvements in healthcare, education, and a 22% increase in per capita income over the last decade.

Jugnauth’s reputation was further bolstered last month when the British government agreed to cede sovereignty of the long-disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a territory the country had claimed for over 50 years.

However, just ahead of the election, the government faced criticism following a wiretapping scandal that prompted a nationwide social media ban. The scandal, involving the leaked recordings of private conversations between politicians, police officers, business leaders, and others, led to accusations of government surveillance. The ban on social media, initially set to last until after the election, has since been lifted, though questions remain about the government’s role in the wiretapping.

Reporters Without Borders, an organization that advocates for press freedom, revealed that five prominent Mauritian journalists were among those targeted by the surveillance, calling for an independent investigation. The scandal has raised concerns about the extent of surveillance within Mauritius, with some critics questioning whether the government was involved.