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Mauritius imposed an overnight curfew after protests over water shortages and the high cost of living escalated into the island’s worst riots in decades, according to the BBC.
The unrest turned violent on Friday, when a woman was shot and wounded by police at a roadblock. The circumstances of the shooting remain unclear. The officer involved has been arrested and remanded in custody.
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam ordered the curfew on Tuesday and warned against people “acting against the interests of the country”. In an address to the nation, he said those responsible would face “the very heavy consequences warranted by their anti-patriotic acts”.
Protesters burned tyres and blocked roads over the weekend as violence spread. Police stations and other public infrastructure were vandalised, prompting the closure of schools and public transport. Foreign embassies also issued alerts urging their nationals to exercise caution.
Police reported several incidents and some arrests overnight despite the curfew. By Wednesday morning, however, traffic was moving across the island, and police said people should return to their normal activities.
Zoë McCathie, an analyst at South Africa-based Signal Risk, told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the government had initially responded to water shortages by providing more water to households. She said protests on this scale had not been seen since around 1999, describing the government’s decision to close schools and impose a curfew as a logical and necessary response.
Although the government had managed to curtail the worst of the unrest, McCathie said protests could resume in some areas. Water shortages are expected to continue until the rainy season in December.
The cabinet was due to meet on Wednesday afternoon to review the situation and decide on next steps.
