What You Need to Know
Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam announced initiatives to strengthen the Cybercrime Unit in Mauritius, supported by the Indian Government. Key measures include establishing a Command-and-Control Centre, enhancing digital forensics, and amending the Cybersecurity Act to improve legal frameworks and operational capacity against cybercrime.
Africa-Press – Mauritius. Mauritius will benefit from the assistance of the Indian Government to bolster the capacity of the Cybercrime Unit, through the establishment of a Command-and-Control Centre as a centralised platform for cybercrime response, the development of enhanced digital forensic capabilities to address complex investigations, and the strengthening of national cybercrime response mechanisms.
The Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, made this announcement, today in the National Assembly, during his reply to a Parliamentary Question pertaining to the Cybercrime Unit.
The Prime Minister informed that the Cybercrime Unit is staffed with 16 other officers of different ranks, comprising another Assistant Superintendent of Police, one Police Inspector, eight Police Sergeants and six Police Constables. The Unit, he pointed out, is headed by an officer of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police, who is accountable to the Deputy Commissioner of Police Crime.
Dr Ramgoolam indicated that for the period 01 November 2025 to 23 April 2026, a total of 116 cases has been referred to the Cybercrime Unit for investigation, emphasising that one of these has been filed before the Court while six have led to arrests, with the persons concerned released on bail with conditions, and enquiries in the remaining cases are ongoing.
Prime Minister Ramgoolam reassured that Government is aware of the existing operational constraints of the Cybercrime Unit and is taking steps to strengthen its operational capacity in view of the increasing volume and complexity of cyber-related offences.
These include: establishing a more integrated operational framework whereby the Cybercrime Unit works in close coordination with the Police IT Unit, which provides 24/7 technical and digital forensic support for investigations; and enhanced collaboration between the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-MU), the Mauritius Police Force and the Data Protection Office for the operation of a Digital Forensic Laboratory, under the Police IT Unit.
Moreover, training is being provided to officers, through a range of international organisations and partner jurisdictions, to enhance their expertise in areas such as digital forensics, cyber investigations and emerging cyber threats, underlined the Prime Minister.
The State Leader also highlighted that in line with Government’s Programme 2025–2029, the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation is working on amendments to the Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Act to further reinforce the legal framework. He noted that these amendments will provide for enhanced oversight and auditing of critical information infrastructure, as well as stronger safeguards for child online protection.
They will also strengthen the obligations of service providers to implement robust cybersecurity measures, comply with mandatory security standards and audits, report and respond promptly to cyber incidents, and cooperate fully with investigations, he added.
Mauritius has been increasingly focused on enhancing its cybersecurity measures due to the rising threat of cybercrime. The Cybercrime Unit, established to tackle these issues, has faced operational challenges, prompting the government to seek international assistance. The collaboration with India aims to bolster the Unit’s capabilities through training and technological support, reflecting a broader trend of nations prioritizing cybersecurity in response to global digital threats. As cybercrime evolves, countries like Mauritius are recognizing the need for robust legal frameworks and operational strategies to protect their citizens and infrastructure.
