Mauritius Government Seeks Nationwide Curfew Powers and Tougher Weapons Laws

The Mauritian government is seeking to amend existing legislation to allow a curfew to be imposed across the entire country, not just in specific areas, and to tighten sanctions against individuals found carrying offensive weapons.

Currently, curfew orders in Mauritius can be applied to defined zones or regions. The proposed changes would give authorities the legal power to extend such a measure island-wide if the situation demands it. This move comes in the context of recent civil unrest that shook several parts of Mauritius, prompting emergency measures including localised curfews and early closure of public transport services.

Alongside the territorial extension of curfew powers, the government also wants to strengthen penalties for the carrying of offensive weapons. Under the proposed changes, individuals caught in possession of such weapons during a curfew or period of unrest would face harsher legal consequences than those currently provided for under Mauritian law.

The announcements signal that the government views the existing legal framework as insufficient to respond to large-scale public disorder. Officials appear to be drawing lessons from the recent riots, which caused an estimated Rs 470 million in losses to businesses and led to significant disruption across the island, including damage to the Metro Express light rail network.

The Public Gatherings Act and related public order legislation govern how curfews and restrictions on movement are currently applied in Mauritius. Any amendments would need to pass through the National Assembly, where the government holds a majority, though that majority has recently been tested by the resignation of MP Sydney Pierre from the Labour Party.

What this means: If these legal changes are adopted, the Prime Minister's office and relevant authorities would gain broader powers to lock down movement across the whole of Mauritius in one decision, rather than managing area-by-area restrictions. For residents, this means that in a future crisis, a single curfew order could apply from Mahebourg in the south to Grand Baie in the north. For anyone caught carrying a knife, iron bar or other offensive weapon during such a period, the legal consequences would be significantly more severe than before. Businesses, transport operators and the general public would all be subject to these extended rules.

The government has not yet published the full draft of the proposed legislative changes, and no date has been given for when the amendments would be tabled in parliament.

Source: Le Defi Media