Pravind Jugnauth Condemns Shooting of Élodie Thomas at Camp-Levieux

Former Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has publicly condemned the shooting of a woman named Élodie Thomas at Camp-Levieux, stating: "I firmly condemn all forms of violence." The incident has shaken Mauritius and drawn responses from across the political spectrum. Élodie Thomas was shot and wounded in Camp-Levieux, a locality in the east of Mauritius, in what has become one of the most high-profile violent incidents in the country in recent memory. **What happened at Camp-Levieux?** Élodie Thomas was struck by a bullet in the Camp-Levieux area. A police sergeant has since been arrested in connection with the shooting, raising serious questions about conduct within the Mauritius Police Force. The case has drawn intense public scrutiny and sparked calls for accountability at the highest levels. The severity of Thomas's injuries prompted authorities to fly in four specialist surgeons from India to perform the necessary medical procedures — a measure that underlines the critical nature of her condition. **Political reactions** Jugnauth, who leads the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) and served as Prime Minister until the 2024 general election, used strong language to distance himself and his party from any tolerance of violence. His statement came as current Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam also vowed there would be no cover-up in the case. The Resistance and Alternative (ReA), an opposition grouping, has gone further, demanding a parallel independent inquiry into the incident — signalling that political pressure on the government and police to act transparently is building from multiple directions. Lawyer Raouf Valayden has also entered the fray, calling for a drug test to be administered to the police officer arrested in connection with the shooting. **Why this case matters** The shooting of a civilian allegedly involving a serving police officer touches on deep public concerns about the rule of law, police accountability, and personal safety in Mauritius. The island nation, while generally regarded as one of Africa's most stable and peaceful countries, is not immune to incidents that test public trust in its institutions. The decision to bring in foreign surgeons also highlights the limitations of local medical capacity for complex trauma cases, and underscores how seriously the authorities are treating the situation. The case is expected to remain in the political and public spotlight as investigations continue and Thomas's medical condition evolves. Source: Le Defi Media