| 1999 Mauritian riots | |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 February 1999 - 25 February 1999 |
| Location | 20°08′49″S 57°30′40″E / 20.14694°S 57.51111°E |
| Caused by | Death of Joseph Réginald Topize in police custody |
| Methods | Rioting, clashes with law enforcement, looting, property damage, protests, ethnic clashes |
| Resulted in | 5 dead Hundreds injured Extensive looting and property damage 250 escaped prisoners[1] |
| History of Mauritius |
|---|
 |
| Portuguese |
| Dutch |
|
| French (1710–1810) |
| British (1810–1968) |
| Independence (1968) |
| Specific themes |
The 1999 Mauritian riots were national-scale rioting and protests in Mauritius following the death of the popular "seggae" musician Joseph Réginald Topize, better known by his stage name "Kaya", in police custody.[2][3] The rioting lasted for four days from 21 to 25 February 1999. Four civilians and one police officer were killed in the riots with hundreds of people suffering injuries. It was the first incidence of mass rioting in Mauritius since the country's 1968 riots.[2] The riots resulted in a majority of the island's police stations being sacked by protesters with 250 prisoners escaping prison.[1] Many businesses were looted and substantial property damage was done with over 200 vehicles being set on fire.[3]
- ^ a b "Reggae rage in Mauritius". The Economist. 25 February 1999. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ a b Carroll, Barbara Wake; Carroll, Terrance (25 March 2000). "Trouble in paradise: Ethnic conflict in Mauritius". Commonwealth & Comparative Politics. 38 (2): 25–50. doi:10.1080/14662040008447817. S2CID 144830644.
- ^ a b Vellien, Clifford (25 February 1999). "Rioting in Mauritius set off by jail death of singer". The Guardian. Port Louis. Retrieved 20 August 2018.