Fires burn along a street as two people walk past the scene during unrest in Mauritius. The violence followed public anger over a police shooting and preceded the imposition of an overnight curfew in several areas. Photo: News Moris.

NNA News - Mauritius has lifted an overnight curfew imposed after violence in several parts of the island, as police report arrests and a return to normal traffic conditions following unrest linked to a police shooting.

The restrictions ended at 06:00 local time on Wednesday, 14 October, after Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam announced the measure in a televised address on Tuesday evening. The curfew covered 15 designated areas, including Port Louis, under an order issued by the police commissioner with ministerial approval.

The Mauritius Tourism Authority confirmed that the restrictions applied from 20:30 on Tuesday until 06:00 on Wednesday, with exemptions for medical emergencies, essential purchases and travel connected to the international airport and Port Louis harbour.

The government imposed the curfew after incidents in several localities, including road blockades, fires, damage to police stations and shops, and vehicles being set alight.

In his address, Ramgoolam condemned the violence as “unacceptable” and appealed for public solidarity, saying that “peace and harmony in the country depend on every Mauritian”.

The prime minister said information received by the authorities indicated that further disorder was possible. He alleged that some of those involved were being funded and directed by drug traffickers who felt threatened by police operations. That allegation has not been independently established.

Police said on Wednesday morning that the situation was under control following overnight operations. Local media reported that authorities had arrested several people, although they had not yet released a detailed breakdown of the arrests or the incidents under investigation. Roads were reported to be accessible across the island after the curfew ended.

The unrest followed public anger over the shooting of 27-year-old Élodie Thomas by a police officer on 9 October. The incident has become a focus of protests, alongside concerns about water supply difficulties.

Local reporting said a police sergeant had been provisionally charged in connection with the shooting, while an investigation into the circumstances of the incident continued. The allegations surrounding the shooting and the responsibility for the subsequent violence remain matters for the relevant investigations to establish.

Lifting the curfew allows movement to resume, but authorities continue to urge residents to remain cautious as investigations proceed.

The immediate focus is now on establishing responsibility for the violence, clarifying the circumstances of the police shooting and determining what further steps the government will take to address public concerns.