conventional long form: Republic of
Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Port Louis
Administrative
divisions:
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega
Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port,
Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart,
Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:
12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system with elements of
English common law in certain areas
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sir Anerood
JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003) and Vice President Abdool Raouf
BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 30
September 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 25 February 2002
(next to be held NA 2007); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly election results: Karl OFFMANN elected president and Raouf
BUNDHUN elected vice president; percent of vote by the National
Assembly - NA; note - Karl OFFMANN stepped down on 30 September 2003
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (66 seats; 62
elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from
the losing political parties to give representation to various ethnic
minorities; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 11 September 2000 (next to be held NA
September 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - MSM/MMM 52.3%, MLP/PMSD
36.9%, OPR 10.8%; seats by party - MSM/MMM 54, MLP/PMSD 6, OPR 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and
leaders:
Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH]; Mauritian
Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant
Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] - in coalition with MSM; Mauritian
Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Militant
Socialist Movement or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] - governing party;
Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues
Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]
chief of mission: Ambassador Usha JEETAH
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492 chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC
20008
Diplomatic
representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICE
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port
Louis mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis;
US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-2450 telephone: [230] 202-4400 FAX: [230] 208-9534
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue,
yellow, and green