One million voters called to vote, results expected on Monday

Mauritians voted on Sunday, November 10, during a suspenseful legislative election, in a context of economic and democratic concerns in the Indian Ocean archipelago considered a model of stability and prosperity on the African continent. In this country, considered one of the most stable democracies in Africa, the opposition nevertheless feared a risk of fraud.

In this republic that has only had three families at the head of its government since its independence in 1968, Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth hopes to win a new five-year term at the end of elections that promise to be indecisive.

It is presented there with the conclusion of an agreement at the beginning of October. “historical” between Mauritius and London over the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, which is considered a great success for the Mauritian government after more than half a century of dispute.

But a phone hacking scandal quickly tainted his campaign after excerpts of phone conversations between politicians, members of civil society, diplomats and journalists were leaked on social media in October. In response, authorities announced on November 1 that they would block social media until the day after the election, before changing their minds amid anger from the opposition.

One million voters

Two main blocs clashed: the alliance led by the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) of Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, 62, and the Alliance of Change led by Navin Ramgoolam, leader of the Labor Party, 77.

After media reports raised fears of fraud, police officers were deployed to polling stations. Ramgoolam called for vigilance, but later assured that the vote had taken place without incident. “We are heading towards a big win tomorrow (Monday). The people are waiting for this liberation.”declared. “We are confident in winning because people value our record”his opponent, Mr. Jugnauth, also assured.

The two men also faced an alliance that is presented as an alternative with the motto “Neither Navin nor Pravind.”and criticizes corruption and nepotism in the archipelago. In total 891 candidates are in the running. Of them, 62 will be elected deputies at the end of the vote. The Electoral Supervision Commission assigns eight seats to guarantee balance in community representation.

Around a million voters were registered for these twelfth legislative elections in the history of the republic, in which the leader of the alliance that obtains the majority becomes prime minister. The participation rate was 70% at 5:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. in Paris), one hour before the polling stations closed, commented the Electoral Commission, which did not make any comparison with the 2019 vote. The results are expected on Monday.

Completion of “decolonization”

Last month, Mauritius, which is predominantly Hindu but has significant Christian and Muslim minorities, moved from first to second place in the Ibrahim Index, which assesses governance on the African continent. GDP growth was 7% in 2023.

The alliance led by Pravind Kumar Jugnauth won the 2019 legislative elections, winning 42 seats out of 70 in the National Assembly. This election victory established the legitimacy of the man who succeeded his father Anerood Jugnauth in 2017.

Navin Ramgoolam, former prime minister (1995-2000 and 2005-2014), is the son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who led the former British colony to independence before becoming its first head of government.

Mauritius concluded an agreement with the United Kingdom on the Chagos Archipelago in October, hailed by Mr. Jugnauth as the culmination of “decolonization”. The text establishes, however, that “for an initial period of 99 years”London will be “authorized to exercise sovereign rights” at the US military base located there. Mauritius claims sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago since its acquisition in 1965 by London, which expelled its inhabitants to establish the base there.