Élodie Thomas's Husband Speaks Out: 'Our Baby Calls for Mama'

The husband of Élodie Thomas — the young woman shot by a police officer in Camp-Levieux, Mauritius — has broken his silence, describing the heartbreaking scene at home as their baby repeatedly calls out for their injured mother. "Inside, the baby keeps calling 'mama, mama' — when I see that, my heart breaks," he confided, speaking in Mauritian Creole to Le Defi Media. **Who is Élodie Thomas?** Élodie Thomas is a Mauritian woman who was shot during a police intervention in Camp-Levieux, a residential area in the east of Mauritius. The circumstances of the shooting have sparked widespread public outrage, with many questioning whether the use of force was justified. The case has since become a flashpoint in a broader national conversation about police conduct and accountability in Mauritius. **A family torn apart** While Élodie Thomas remains under medical care — with seven specialists reported to be involved in her treatment — her husband is left at home managing the couple's young child, who is too young to understand why their mother is absent. His words paint a picture of quiet, daily anguish that goes beyond the political and legal storm surrounding the case. The emotional testimony comes as civil society activists have been calling for a full judicial inquiry into the shooting, and as members of the PMSD (Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate, one of Mauritius's main opposition parties) visited the family to express solidarity. **Growing calls for accountability** The shooting has drawn condemnation from across Mauritian society. Religious leaders, including Bishop Durhône, have publicly prayed for Élodie Thomas's recovery. Psychological support has been extended to the family. Medical updates have offered some reassurance — a doctor confirmed she is "doing well, with no problems" — but the path to full recovery, and to justice, remains uncertain. The Police Complaints Division, Mauritius's official body for investigating complaints against police officers, is expected to play a role in any formal inquiry. Activists, however, are pushing for an independent judicial process, arguing that internal investigations are insufficient when officers are accused of brutality. **What this means** For many Mauritians, this case has moved beyond one family's trauma. It has become a test of whether the country's institutions can hold law enforcement accountable. The husband's words — simple, raw, and spoken in Creole — have humanised a story that risks being lost in legal and political debate. Behind every headline is a child asking for their mother. Source: Le Defi Media