ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The APR Panel of Eminent Persons is delighted to present its country review report on Mauritius. An undertaking such as this is the result of the hard work and unfailing support of the people of Mauritius, led by His Excellency Dr the Honourable Navinchandra Ramgoolam, prime minister of the Republic of Mauritius. The APR Panel also acknowledges the personal involvement and availability of His Excellency Sir Anerood Jugnauth, president of the Republic of Mauritius, who was resolutely involved throughout the APRM process. The APR Panel would also like to express its gratitude to the APRM National Focal Point, Dr the Honourable Arvin Boolell, minister of foreign affairs, regional integration and international trade (MoFARIIT), and his team, supervised by His Excellency Ambassador Patrice Curé, as well as to the other members of the government of Mauritius who made themselves available for in-depth consultations with the Country Review Mission (CRM). Through their energetic intervention, members of the CRM were able to meet the speaker of the Parliament, the chief justice, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the auditor general, the head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), 12 ministers and their close working partners. Programme Regional Bureau for Africa (UNDP, RBA), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The APR Panel offers sincere thanks to these three institutions, not only in terms of the present exercise, but also in respect of the constant and continuing support given to the APRM since its inception. The APR Panel furthermore gratefully acknowledges the strong leadership provided by these organisations’ respective heads – Messrs Donald Kaberuka, Tegegnework Gettu and Abdoulie Janneh. Finally, the APR Panel would like to express its gratitude to all those who worked in the background to facilitate the translation, revision and improvement of the initial draft, and the eventual production of the final product you now hold in your hands. Their dedication and the time they devoted to the report are greatly appreciated. The National Economic and Social Council (NESC), led by Mr Mohamed Vayid, facilitated the CRM’s assessment of the country by carrying out the selfassessment exercise with diligence, meticulousness, skill and determination. The APR Panel would like to take this opportunity to express its warm appreciation and acknowledgment of, and towards, this institution. This report is the fruit of several months’ dedicated effort by a team of toplevel African experts who worked patiently and relentlessly, under the guidance of Professor Mohammed Seghir Babès, the leading member of the APR Panel, and the direction of the APR Panel, with the APR Secretariat providing technical support. The team, comprising individuals from 12 African states, included Mr Abdul Aziz Jalloh, Mr Donatien Bihute, Mr Mbaya J Kankwenda, Mr Ijuka Kabumba, Ms Sylvie Kinigi, Mr David Abdulai, Mr Dawit Makonnen, Ms Laura Nyirinkindi, Mrs Souad Abdennebi, Mrs Houda Mejri, Ms Chantal Uwimana, Mr Najib Mohammed Harabi, Mr Mahmoud Ben Romdhane, Mr Mouloud Tehami, Mr Siphosa Malunga, Mr Moise Nembot, Mr Dalmar Jama and Ms Atany Kagnaguine, and the APR Panel is profoundly appreciative of the team’s contribution to the review process. It would not have been possible to assess the four focus areas of the APRM in Mauritius without the unconditional support of the APRM’s strategic partners: the African Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Development ii iii