Who Runs Mauritius and How Power Works

MAURITIUS · POLITICS

One alliance holds nearly every elected seat, the opposition leader changed in August 2026, and the prime minister runs finance too. Here is how power works in November 2026.

Mauritius is an island republic in the Indian Ocean that also governs Rodrigues, a smaller island. Navinchandra Ramgoolam is prime minister, and the alliance behind him won 60 of 62 directly elected seats in November 2024.

This guide names who holds each office, using official government pages and the constitution. The pages were checked in November 2026.

In plain English, the National Assembly is parliament, and the Speaker chairs it. The Leader of the Opposition heads the largest group that does not support the government.

More coverage sits on the Rio Times Mauritius page and in the Mauritius explained guide. Related reading: Mauritius and its Indian Ocean neighbours and the Mauritius financial hub.

Mauritius Politics in Brief

The list below shows who holds each office, as the official pages state it. Details and dates follow in the sections after it.

• Head of state: President Dharambeer Gokhool, elected by the National Assembly and in office since 7 December 2024.
• Head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, who also holds defence, home affairs, finance and Rodrigues portfolios.
• Deputy: Deputy Prime Minister Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, who also runs gender equality and family welfare.
• Legislature: the National Assembly, led by Speaker Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra since 29 November 2024.
• Opposition: Chetan Anand Baboolall, Leader of the Opposition from 6 August 2026.
• Security: Commissioner of Police A. K. Dip, according to the police service website.
• Rodrigues: Chief Commissioner Franceau Aubret Grandcourt, according to the regional assembly website.

The President and the Prime Minister

Dharambeer Gokhool was unanimously elected President of Mauritius by the National Assembly on Friday, 6 December 2024. He assumed office on Saturday, 7 December 2024, the Office of the President says.

The constitution says the Assembly elects the president on the prime minister’s motion, for five years, and the president may be re-elected. The president must be a citizen, at least 40 years old and resident for five years.

The president appoints as prime minister the member of the Assembly best able to command the support of the majority. Navinchandra Ramgoolam holds that post, and his office lists him also as Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications.

He is also Minister of Finance and Minister for Rodrigues and Outer Islands, the Cabinet Office list shows. Money, security and island affairs therefore sit in one office.

The Cabinet, Minister by Minister

The Cabinet Office list dated Wednesday, 6 May 2026 names 24 ministers including the prime minister. The deputy prime minister is Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, who is also Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare.

The list below gives the ministers most likely to matter to foreign readers. Titles are copied from the official list.

• Dhananjay Ramful: Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade.
• Jyoti Jeetun: Financial Services and Economic Planning.
• Gavin Glover: Attorney-General, the government’s legal adviser, who holds the rank of Senior Counsel.
• Christian Duval: Tourism.
• Patrick Assirvaden: Energy and Public Utilities.
• Anil Bachoo: Health and Wellness.
• Mahend Gungapersad: Education and Human Resource.
• Arvin Boolell: Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries.
• Ranjiv Woochit: Local Government.
• John Yeung Sik Yuen: Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Other ministers hold housing and lands, environment, infrastructure, land transport, labour, youth and sports, and technology. The full list is on the prime minister’s website.

The National Assembly and Its Opposition

Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra has been Speaker since 29 November 2024, the National Assembly says. The Speaker’s main task is to make sure the Standing Orders, the Assembly’s rulebook, are followed.

Vedasingam Baloomoody is Deputy Speaker. The Assembly lists 66 members, while the constitution provides for 70 under its First Schedule.

The alliance won 60 of the 62 directly elected seats in November 2024. The Rodrigues People’s Organisation, the island’s regional party, won the other two.

The Leader of the Opposition is appointed by the president, the constitution says. The Assembly’s roles page names Chetan Anand Baboolall in that role from Thursday, 6 August 2026.

The members page still lists Joe Lesjongard as leader from 15 November 2024. The roles page has overtaken that entry.

Local press reports of Friday, 7 August 2026 tied the change to resignations by Lesjongard and Adrien Duval. No official page explains it.

How Elections and the Electoral Commission Work

The constitution divides Mauritius into 21 constituencies, 20 on the main island and Rodrigues as one. The Electoral Supervisory Commission oversees voter registration and the conduct of elections.

An Electoral Commissioner is also appointed under the same constitution. The Assembly continues for five years from its first sitting after a general election.

That puts the next general election at about late 2029. The date of the first sitting was not read, so the exact deadline is not known.

Security Forces, Courts and the Law

The police service website names A. K. Dip as Commissioner of Police. The Defence and Home Affairs Division lists the Police Service, the Passport and Immigration Office and a police complaints body.

The constitution says the Director of Public Prosecutions, the state’s chief prosecutor, is appointed by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. Attorney-General Gavin Glover advises the government.

No official page read names the Chief Justice or describes the special police units. Those points are listed below under what is not known.

Rodrigues and the Outer Islands

The Rodrigues Regional Assembly website lists Franceau Aubret Grandcourt as Chief Commissioner and Johnson Roussety as Deputy Chief Commissioner. Five more commissioners head areas such as agriculture, health, tourism and youth.

Rodrigues forms one of the 21 constituencies, and the Rodrigues People’s Organisation won its two directly elected seats in November 2024. The prime minister himself holds the Rodrigues and Outer Islands portfolio.

What It Means for US Readers

The US Trade Representative, the White House trade office, says US goods trade with Mauritius totalled US$239.6 million in 2025. US exports were US$48.7 million, up 1.5%, and imports were US$190.9 million, down 18.2%.

The US goods trade deficit with Mauritius was US$142.2 million. The same office says Mauritius is eligible for AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, including textile and apparel benefits.

Proclamation 11030 of Tuesday, 19 May 2026 says AGOA duty-free treatment remains in effect through 31 December 2026. American importers of Mauritian textiles should plan for that end date.

Because the prime minister holds finance, defence and home affairs, major decisions on investment, security and visas run through his office. Foreign firms should track the cabinet list rather than assume past officeholders remain.

What Is Not Known

• Why the Leader of the Opposition changed on 6 August 2026, since no official page gives reasons.
• Which party holds which seats inside the Alliance du Changement, because the official lists show only the alliance label.
• The names of the Chief Justice and the Governor of the Bank of Mauritius, which no official page read confirmed.
• How the police, special units and coast guard are organised, because no official page read describes them.
• The date of the Assembly’s first sitting after the 2024 election, and so the exact deadline for the next election.
• Whether AGOA will be extended after 31 December 2026, and whether the Chagos treaty has entered into force.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the president of Mauritius in 2026?

Dharambeer Gokhool, elected by the National Assembly on 6 December 2024. He took office on 7 December 2024.

Who is the prime minister of Mauritius?

Navinchandra Ramgoolam is prime minister. He is also Minister of Defence, Home Affairs, Finance and Rodrigues and Outer Islands.

How many seats did the ruling alliance win in 2024?

The Alliance du Changement won 60 of 62 directly elected seats. The Rodrigues People’s Organisation won the other two.

Who is the Leader of the Opposition in Mauritius?

Chetan Anand Baboolall, named by the Assembly’s roles page from 6 August 2026. He replaced Joe Lesjongard, who held the post from 15 November 2024.

Who is the Speaker of the National Assembly?

Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra has been Speaker since 29 November 2024. Vedasingam Baloomoody is Deputy Speaker.

How are the president and prime minister chosen?

The Assembly elects the president for five years on the prime minister’s motion. The president appoints as prime minister the member best able to command a majority.

Does Mauritius have AGOA trade benefits?

The US Trade Representative lists Mauritius as AGOA eligible, with textile and apparel benefits. Proclamation 11030 keeps duty-free treatment through 31 December 2026.

Sources: Prime Minister’s Office, list of ministers of 6 May 2026; Office of the President of Mauritius; National Assembly, the Speaker; National Assembly, Hon. Members; National Assembly, roles; Mauritius Police Force; Defence and Home Affairs Division; Rodrigues Regional Assembly; US Trade Representative, Mauritius; Federal Register, Proclamation 11030 of 19 May 2026 (all accessed 3 November 2026).

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