The island of Mauritius, praised as an African success story, will hold its national election

JOHANNESBURG — The Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius will hold a national election Sunday, when Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth seeks to win a second term as leader of a nation often praised as one of Africa’s success stories. The World Bank has described Mauritius, a former colony of sugar plantations, as a “beacon of success for sub-Saharan Africa” and says it has achieved remarkable economic growth since independence. The Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a U.S. Congress-funded academic institution, said Mauritius’ stability and strong governance have made it a popular destination for financial investment. Yet a countrywide ban on social media a week ago in response to a wiretapping scandal raised criticism of Jugnauth’s government and prompted some political turmoil ahead of the election.