18 Mar 2018 | 01:18 PM UTC
Mauritius: Lawyer confirms president to resign March 17 /update 3
Lawyer confirms that President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has resigned on March 17
Event
On Saturday, March 17, lawyers representing President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim confirmed that she will resign and leave office on Friday, March 22. Large gatherings are possible in the coming days.
Context
On Wednesday, President Gurib-Fakim’s office released a statement, claiming that the accusations against the president are false and that she will provide evidence to prove her innocence. The statement contradicts Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, who had announced on March 9 that Gurib-Fakim would resign following independence celebrations on Monday, March 12.
The government decided on March 8 to launch impeachment proceedings against President Gurib-Fakim after news broke of her involvement in a financial scandal. A local newspaper, L’Express, reported that Fakim spent several hundred thousand rupees on personal purchases using a platinum credit card offered by a non-governmental organization called Planet Earth Institute (PEI). PEI is owned by Álvaro Sobrinho, a controversial Angolan businessman, who initially worked with the president to offer scholarships to Mauritian students. The president claims to have reimbursed the money.
Advice
Individuals in Mauritius are advised to stay informed of the evolving sociopolitical climate in the coming weeks and to avoid all large gatherings as a precaution.
