Mauritius votes in scandal-hit elections

Mauritius held a tense election amid political scandals and economic concerns, following Chagos sovereignty deal.

PORT LOUIS:

Mauritius voted Sunday in a close-fought parliamentary election focused on economic and political stability in one of Africa's most prosperous democracies.

The vote in the Indian Ocean archipelago came on the heels of a historic agreement last month that saw Britain cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following a long-running dispute.

But incumbent Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth's hopes of an easy re-election on the back of the deal were dealt a blow when secretly recorded phone calls of politicians, diplomats and journalists began to be leaked online last month.

Seeking to keep a lid on the explosive scandal, the authorities announced a social media ban until after the election, before making an embarrassing climbdown in the face of opposition and media outrage.