By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-10-17 12:06:33 | Updated at 2026-10-17 13:36:47
1 hour ago
MAURITIUS · SECURITY AND LAW
Key Facts
- —What is happening Mauritius’ Cabinet agreed on Friday, 16 October 2026 to put a Police (Amendment) Bill to parliament that would let a curfew order cover the whole island and raise penalties for carrying an offensive weapon.
- —Why it matters Curfew orders are now limited to named localities, so the bill would remove that limit after riots that began on 12 October, and it would reach residents and visitors across the island.
- —The numbers Police have arrested 151 people, including 16 minors, since the riots began on 12 October, and a new curfew runs from 22:00 to 04:30 on three nights to Monday morning.
- —Who is who The Commissioner of Police heads the Mauritius Police Force and makes curfew orders under the Police Act; the Cabinet is the government’s decision body, and the National Assembly must pass the bill.
- —What to watch Watch for the bill’s text, the size of the new penalties and the date of the National Assembly sitting at which it is presented, none of which has been published yet.
- —What it means for you US travellers on the island should follow the police and local authorities, expect night curfews through Sunday, 18 October, and check US State Department travel guidance before they fly.
Mauritius plans to let police impose a curfew across the whole country, not only in single localities. The Cabinet also approved tougher penalties for people caught outdoors with offensive weapons during a curfew.
The Mauritius nationwide curfew plan advanced on Friday, 16 October 2026. The Cabinet agreed to introduce a Police (Amendment) Bill in the National Assembly.
The bill would let the Commissioner of Police order a curfew for the whole of Mauritius instead of one locality. It follows riots that began on 12 October and matters to US travellers because it could cover the entire island.
What the Mauritius Nationwide Curfew Bill Changes
The Cabinet’s official summary says the bill amends the Police Act. A curfew order by the Commissioner of Police would no longer be limited to a locality and could cover all of Mauritius.
The bill also provides harsher penalties for anyone found outdoors with an offensive weapon in a curfew area during curfew hours. The summary gives no figures for fines or prison terms.
Defimedia, a Mauritian news site, reported the decision on Friday evening, 16 October. Le Mauricien, a Mauritian daily, followed on Saturday morning, 17 October, with the same account.
Le Mauricien adds that the current law limits a curfew to a specific locality. Both outlets say the bill will be presented to the National Assembly, which must still pass it.
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The Curfew Now in Force
Separately, the Cabinet agreed to a new Curfew Order for three nights. It runs from 22:00 to 04:30 on Friday 16, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October.
The Cabinet summary does not list the areas covered by this order. Under the law as it stands, the order must name localities.
An earlier curfew order, issued on Tuesday, 13 October, covered specific regions from 20:30 to 06:00. On Wednesday, 14 October the Cabinet agreed two more nights, from 20:30 to 05:00.
The Riots Behind the Decision
The Cabinet noted the Commissioner of Police’s report on the situation since riots broke out on 12 October. Police say 151 people have been arrested, including 16 minors.
Cases against 12 of them were lodged and they appeared in court on Friday. Three others have already been sentenced by district courts.
Seven police officers have been injured. Eight police stations were damaged, including Barkly, Abercrombie, Pointe aux Sable, Petite Riviere, Bambous, Camp Levieux, Black River and Bel Ombre.
The report also lists 31 police vehicles, 162 Safe City cameras at 75 sites and 27 traffic lights as damaged. Around 17,000 tonnes of sugar cane were burnt, and an assessment of the financial impact is under way.
A separate police case, an arrest over a WhatsApp group, is covered in Jayesh Julloo Held in Mauritius Molotov Plot. This article covers only the Cabinet decision on curfew powers.
Other Decisions From the Same Cabinet Meeting
The Cabinet examined lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12 years but chose wider consultation instead. It agreed to a motion at the next Assembly sitting for a Select Committee on the causes of juvenile delinquency and violence.
The Cabinet also set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the emergency water situation, chaired by the prime minister. It revised the dates of school assessments and extended the secondary school term by three days, to end on Thursday, 5 November.
What It Means for US Readers
Mauritius is a popular holiday destination in the Indian Ocean, and visitors are subject to the same curfew orders as residents. A nationwide order would apply to every part of the island, including areas that have seen no unrest.
Travellers should follow the instructions of the police and local authorities and check US State Department guidance before they travel. Any change to flights or hotel services is a matter for airlines and operators, and none is announced in the sources.
What Is Not Known
The bill text is not in the sources, so the new penalties for carrying an offensive weapon are not known. It is also unknown which weapons count as offensive or whether exemptions would apply.
The date when the bill is presented in the National Assembly is not given, and passage is not assured. The Cabinet summary does not say whether the current curfew order covers the whole country.
The decision rests on the Cabinet’s official summary, which Defimedia and Le Mauricien repeat without further detail. No government minister or the police have been quoted on how a nationwide curfew would be used.
What Comes Next
The bill goes to the National Assembly, where members will debate it before any vote. The Select Committee on juvenile delinquency is to be proposed at the next sitting.
The current curfew order lapses at 04:30 on Monday, 19 October, unless a new one is issued. The Cabinet decision does not itself impose a nationwide curfew.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mauritius nationwide curfew bill?
It is a Police (Amendment) Bill approved by the Cabinet on 16 October 2026. It would let the Commissioner of Police order a curfew covering the whole of Mauritius.
Is there a curfew in Mauritius now?
Yes, the Cabinet agreed a new Curfew Order from 22:00 to 04:30 on 16, 17 and 18 October. The last night ends at 04:30 on Monday, 19 October.
What are the new penalties for offensive weapons?
The bill provides harsher penalties for anyone found outdoors with an offensive weapon during a curfew. The Cabinet summary does not state the amounts or sentences.
Has the bill become law?
No, the Cabinet has only agreed to introduce it in the National Assembly. Parliament must still debate and pass it.
Does this affect US travellers in Mauritius?
A curfew applies to everyone on the island, including visitors. Travellers should follow police instructions and check US State Department guidance.
Sources: Prime Minister’s Office of Mauritius, Highlights of Cabinet Meeting, 16 October 2026; Defimedia, 16 October 2026; Le Mauricien, 17 October 2026 (all accessed 17 October 2026).
