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The Republic of Mauritius, a presidential democracy modelled on the British system of parliamentary democracy, guarantees the separation of the
legislative, executive and judicial powers. The President is the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief, while the Prime Minister has full executive power and is the Head of Government. The sixty members of the
National Assembly are elected every five years by universal adult suffrages. All major political parties are represented, reflecting the depth of democracy prevailing in Mauritius. Parliament is the legislative
authority in Mauritius.
The legal system of the Republic of Mauritius derives from both French and English sources. During the French period (1715 until 1810) the island’s
legal system was governed by the French Napoleonic Code which remained in force under the British rule with subsequent amendments in civil and criminal procedural laws and company law. Mauritius therefore enjoys a
hybrid legal system combining both the civil and common law practices. Though being now a Republic, Mauritius still remains a member of the Commonwealth and the right of appeal to the Privy Council is preserved.
Mauritius is a member of the International Court of Justice, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the International Centre for the Settlement of
Investment Disputes and has recently acceded to the 1958 New York Convention on Foreign Arbitration Awards.
Mauritius has long-established international relations and is a member of:
The United Nations and its agencies
The International Monetary Fund
The World Bank
The African Development Bank
The World Trade Organisation
The Organisation of African Unity
African, Caribbean, Pacific Countries Group (signatory of the Lomé Convention)
The Common Market for Southern & Eastern Africa (COMESA)
The Southern African Development Community (SADC)
The proposed Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (founder member) |
