List of heads of state of Mauritius
This is a list of heads of state of Mauritius since the foundation of Mauritius in 1968.
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Constitution |
From 1968 to 1992 the head of state under the Mauritius Independence Act 1968 was the Queen of Mauritius, Elizabeth II, who was also the monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Queen was represented in Mauritius by a Governor-General. Mauritius became a republic under the Constitution of 1992 and the monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President.
In 1992, Mauritius became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state, Queen of Mauritius; the last Governor-General, Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, was appointed the first President of Mauritius. The President is elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Vice President of Mauritius serves as acting head of state.[1][2]
Monarchy (1968–1992)
The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.
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Portrait | Name | Birth | Reign | Death | Consort | House |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Elizabeth II | 21 April 1926 | 12 March 1968 – 12 March 1992 |
Living | ![]() |
Windsor |
Governors-General (1968–1992)
The Governor-General was the representative of the monarch in Mauritius and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Mauritius without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.
Republic (1992–present)
Under the 1992 Constitution, the constitution of the Republic of Mauritius, the President replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The President was elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Vice President served as Acting President.
List of presidents
- Parties
- Labour Party (PTR)
- Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM)
- Militant Socialist Movement (MSM)
- Independent
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Term of office | Political party | Prime Minister(s) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
Republic of Mauritius | ||||||||
1 | ![]() |
Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo (1920–2000) |
1992 | 12 March 1992 | 30 June 1992 | 110 days | PTR | Sir Anerood Jugnauth |
2 | ![]() |
Cassam Uteem (born 1941) |
1992 1997 |
30 June 1992 | 15 February 2002 | 9 years, 230 days | MMM | |
Navin Ramgoolam | ||||||||
Sir Anerood Jugnauth | ||||||||
— | Angidi Chettiar (1928–2010) Acting President |
— | 15 February 2002 | 18 February 2002 | 3 days | PTR | Sir Anerood Jugnauth | |
— | ![]() |
Ariranga Pillay (born 1945) Acting President |
18 February 2002 | 25 February 2002 | 7 days | Non-partisan1 | ||
3 | Karl Offmann (1940–2022) |
2002 | 25 February 2002 | 1 October 2003 | 1 year, 218 days | MSM | Sir Anerood Jugnauth | |
— | ![]() |
Raouf Bundhun (born 1937) Acting President |
— | 1 October 2003 | 7 October 2003 | 6 days | MMM | Paul Bérenger |
4 | ![]() |
Sir Anerood Jugnauth (1930–2021) |
2003 2008 |
7 October 2003 | 31 March 2012 | 8 years, 176 days | MSM | Paul Bérenger |
Navin Ramgoolam | ||||||||
— | Monique Ohsan Bellepeau (born 1942) Acting President |
— | 31 March 2012 | 21 July 2012 | 112 days | PTR | Navin Ramgoolam | |
5 | ![]() |
Kailash Purryag (born 1947) |
2012 | 21 July 2012 | 29 May 2015 | 2 years, 312 days | PTR | Navin Ramgoolam |
Sir Anerood Jugnauth | ||||||||
— | Monique Ohsan Bellepeau (born 1942) Acting President |
— | 29 May 2015 | 5 June 2015 | 7 days | PTR | Sir Anerood Jugnauth | |
6 | ![]() |
Ameenah Gurib (born 1959) |
2015 | 5 June 2015 | 23 March 2018 | 2 years, 291 days | Independent | Sir Anerood Jugnauth |
Pravind Jugnauth | ||||||||
— | ![]() |
Barlen Vyapoory (born 1945/46) Acting President |
— | 23 March 2018 | 26 November 2019 | 1 year, 248 days | MSM | Pravind Jugnauth |
— | Eddy Balancy (born 1953) Acting President |
26 November 2019 | 2 December 2019 | 6 days | Non-partisan1 | |||
7 | ![]() |
Prithvirajsing Roopun (born 1959) |
2019 | 2 December 2019 | Incumbent | 2 years, 150 days | MSM | Pravind Jugnauth |
Timeline

Living former heads of state
Name | Term/Reign | Office | Date of birth |
---|---|---|---|
Elizabeth II | 1968–1992 | Queen of Mauritius | 21 April 1926 |
Cassam Uteem | 1992–2002 | President of Mauritius | 22 March 1941 |
Ariranga Pillay | 2002 | Acting President | 14 June 1945 |
Karl Offmann | 2002–2003 | President of Mauritius | 25 November 1940 |
Raouf Bundhun | 2003 | Acting President | 1937 |
Monique Ohsan Bellepeau | 2012, 2015 | Acting President | 1942 |
Rajkeswur Purryag | 2012–2015 | President of Mauritius | 12 December 1947 |
Footnotes
- ^ Served as Chief Justice of Mauritius.
References
- "Presidents". Rulers.org. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- "Former Governors/Presidents". Presidency website. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.