Sixty families in Grand-Port district face eviction from asbestos-containing homes with no alternative housing
via Le Mauricien5 min read
Sixty families residing in former CHA/EDC homes in the Grand-Port district have received a 15-day eviction notice from the district council due to asbestos contamination, with no alternative housing offered. Lalit, a political organization, has alerted the Minister of Housing, Shakeel Mohamed, urging him to halt the evictions until a proper plan is in place. This comes after Minister Mohamed stated a month prior in the National Assembly that the government would proceed with asbestos removal from these homes, a declaration welcomed by affected families. However, the recent eviction notices, citing a dangerous condition based on an engineer's survey, caught residents by surprise. The notices also warned that non-compliance could lead to the demolition of their homes. Rajni Lallah of Lalit met with the vice-president of the Grand-Port district council, Ritesh Gopy, who indicated the council acted on directives from the Ministry of Local Government. Lalit has since written to Minister Mohamed, who chairs the inter-ministerial committee on asbestos housing replacement, requesting that the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Local Government cease issuing eviction notices. Lalit also called for formal public assurances that these notices would be canceled and that authorities would collaborate with residents to rehouse them or replace their homes with safe alternatives. The organization emphasizes the urgency of clarifying the si
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
International hotel group The Lux Collective is entering Rwanda through a strategic partnership with Cleo Capital Group Ltd, a Rwandan hospitality and investment group. This collaboration aims to develop an ultra-luxury tourism circuit across Rwanda's iconic destinations. The initiative, formalized at the Africa CEO Forum 2026 in Kigali, includes a multi-property project with five hotel locations, introducing the LUX* and SALT brands to the Rwandan market. The signing ceremony involved an agreement for the acquisition of Akagera Game Lodge between Louise Kanyonga, Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Social Security Board RSSB, and Cleo Capital Group Ltd. Hotel management agreements for SALT of Akagera and LUX* Resorts for the Rwanda Tourism Circuit were also concluded between Arnaud Lagesse, Chairman of The Lux Collective and CEO of IBL Group, Emmanuel Rugambwa, Chairman of Akagera Game Lodge, and Eugene Nyagahene, Founder and CEO of Cleo Capital Group Ltd. Driven by ambitious CSR commitments, the Rwanda Tourism Circuit adopts a regenerative development approach, focusing on eco-responsible construction, renewable energies, water preservation, biodiversity protection, and community empowerment. The project aims for sustainable economic and social impact through local sourcing, women's entrepreneurship programs, skills development, and conservation partnerships. It seeks to position Rwanda as a leading destination for eco-responsible ultra-luxury tourism in Africa. Managed b
MCB Research, led by Vicky Hurrynag, Head of Strategy, Research and Development, released its Indian Ocean Economic Outlook report, addressing challenges to growth and economic transformation levers for regional economies. The report emphasizes the importance of Mauritius maintaining its Investment-Grade Sovereign Rating to uphold the International Financial Centre's reputation and attractiveness for trade and investment in Africa. The upcoming 2026/27 budget is seen as a critical juncture, requiring a focused and coherent economic strategy amidst an increasingly uncertain international environment. While Mauritius' economic growth was initially projected to pick up in 2026, it has been revised down to 2.9% due to global oil price increases, supply chain disruptions, and concerns in the tourism industry. The report suggests that the tourism sector could benefit from recent air connectivity decisions, such as Ethiopian Airlines servicing Mauritius and additional seats on Turkish Airlines. However, a slowdown in consumption is anticipated due to rising freight costs, production costs, and erosion of household purchasing power. The MCB also notes that Mauritius could benefit from maritime rerouting due to the Middle East crisis. The report highlights shared structural vulnerabilities among Indian Ocean economies, including reliance on energy and food imports, tourism concentration, and sensitivity to external shocks. Despite these, opportunities for economic transformation exist
BreakingThe United States conducted new airstrikes against Iran on Thursday morning. In response, Iran announced retaliatory attacks against military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain and threatened to target all ships entering the Strait of Hormuz. The US military stated the strikes targeted "Iranian military surveillance facilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across the country." These actions followed accusations from Donald Trump that Tehran was stalling negotiations to end the war in the Middle East. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticized Iran for "playing cat and mouse" in negotiations, stating, "If we have to negotiate with bombs, we will negotiate with bombs, and we are very good at that." Explosions were reported on Qeshm Island, in Minab, Sirik, and the port of Bandar Abbas. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed to have launched drones at the Ali al-Salem and Ahmad al-Jaber military bases in Kuwait, and the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. They also stated they fired 12 ballistic missiles at the US-used Al-Azrak base in Jordan. Tehran warned that its forces would target any vessel attempting to cross the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and natural gas trade. The Revolutionary Guard, quoted by state television, declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice due to "repeated violations of the ceasefire by the American enemy." They warned that any approach to the strait would be considered collaboration with the enemy. The I