Mauritius imposes partial curfew as protests over water shortage turn violent

Mauritius imposed a partial curfew from Tuesday evening until Wednesday morning, affecting roughly one-third of the territory across ten outlying administrative regions. The decree responds to growing unrest sparked by protests over a two-week water shortage and soaring cost of living, which turned violent after a police officer allegedly fired at a woman without warning, causing serious injuries. The officer was arrested and faces prosecution, while Indian medical teams performed surgery to extract the bullet and the victim remains in hospital.

Prior to the shooting, demonstrators blocked roads with burnt tires; after the incident, two supermarkets were looted and police stations were attacked, resulting in several officer injuries. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam warned that organizers would be identified and held accountable. The British and French embassies have urged their nationals to stay away from the demonstrations, and many schools are expected to close on Wednesday.