The acting Prime Minister of Mauritius, Arianne Navarre-Marie, informed the National Assembly on Tuesday that four children have died from acts of violence in Mauritius and Rodrigues since January 2025. Three of the deaths occurred in Mauritius, while one occurred in Rodrigues. The police investigations into these incidents are still ongoing. This information was provided in response to a Private Notice Question from the leader of the opposition, Chetan Baboolall.
The issue of child safety and violence has sparked concerns in Mauritius, with 365 children currently living in 22 residential care homes across the island, and 44 more in Rodrigues. Additionally, since January 2024, police have arrested 103 minors on allegations of drug offenses, including 23 inside secondary schools and four in primary schools. Twenty-three children have appeared before the Children's Court, with 21 convictions recorded.
Prime Minister Ramgoolam recently met with French President Macron at the Élysée Palace on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum. Their discussion focused on the state of Mauritius-France cooperation and potential future developments. This meeting may be the last between PM Ramgoolam and President Macron before France's 2027 elections, which could impact the long-standing partnership between the two nations on trade and security.
Air Mauritius has reported a profit of Rs 4.1 billion, but the figure is largely attributed to one-time accounting entries. After adjusting for these entries, the national carrier's underlying profit for 2025-2026 is approximately Rs 2 billion. Despite this, the airline generated Rs 5.4 billion in net cash from operations during the year.
Three police officers involved in the Élodie Thomas shooting incident in Camp-Levieux may face charges. The police watchdog is finalizing its file for the Director of Public Prosecutions, determining whether the officers attempted to assist the wounded woman after she was shot in the neck by a colleague. Each officer is currently out on Rs 25,000 bail.
Mauritius is set to receive Rs 6.3 billion in financing from the French development agency AFD and the European Union to upgrade its water network. The funding will be used to replace leaking pipes and old pumps, addressing the current water shortages and rationing in various districts.
In other news, a suspect in a girl's abuse case remains at large, while detectives have identified a British-Mauritian nightclub owner in Thailand as the mastermind behind a 1.5-tonne yacht haul of cannabis. Furthermore, one in five Mauritians now lives with diabetes, prompting the patients' group APSA to call for faster screening and increased awareness.
Key points
- Four children have died from acts of violence in Mauritius and Rodrigues since January 2025.
- Mauritius and France are set to strengthen their cooperation, with a potential impact on trade and security.
- The island nation is addressing its water shortages with a Rs 6.3 billion investment in its water network.
