SaveMax Supermarkets in Camp-Levieux and Bambous Ransacked Overnight

Two branches of the SaveMax supermarket chain were ransacked overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, adding to a growing list of businesses targeted during a wave of civil unrest sweeping across Mauritius.

The affected stores are located in Camp-Levieux, a locality in the Plaines Wilhems district in the central part of the island, and in Bambous, a town in the Black River district on the western coast. Both sites were broken into and looted, causing significant damage to the premises and stock.

SaveMax is one of Mauritius's well-known supermarket chains, with multiple outlets serving communities across the island. The attacks on its stores reflect the broader pattern of commercial properties being targeted during the current period of disorder.

The incidents are part of a wider outbreak of looting and vandalism that has hit Mauritius in recent days, prompting the government to impose a nationwide curfew, restrict fuel sales in jerry cans, and invoke anti-terror legislation against those responsible. Security forces, including police helicopter patrols, have been deployed across affected areas.

Bambous has been particularly hard hit. The town's courthouse was also ransacked during the unrest, forcing court services to temporarily relocate to Rose-Hill, a town in the Plaines Wilhems district.

Authorities have so far arrested dozens of individuals in connection with the unrest, including minors. The government has indicated it may lower the age of criminal detention to 12 in response to the involvement of young people in the disturbances.

What this means: The looting of supermarkets like SaveMax has direct consequences for local communities, disrupting food supply and damaging businesses that employ local workers. As unrest continues, residents in affected areas may face shortages of essential goods. The government's escalating legal response — including the potential use of anti-terror laws — signals that authorities are treating the situation with the utmost seriousness.

Source: Le Defi Media