On 23 October 2026, I officially submitted a comprehensive 12-pillar memorandum to the Mauritius Constitutional Review Commission. This detailed submission leverages my research background in geopolitics to advocate for a structural modernization, comprehensive decolonization, and spatial realignment of the supreme law of our Republic.
True decolonization demands that we reclaim the language of our State, the configuration of its power, the integration of its entire territory, the geographic recognition of its citizens, and the absolute independence of its judicial and economic models. Below is an overview of the twelve strategic pillars of reform detailed in my submission.
The 12 Pillars of the Constitutional Proposal:
1. Re-defining the State and Popular Sovereignty
Amending Chapter I, Section 1 to strip away prescriptive colonial-era terminology ("democratic State"), thereby shifting the supreme authority to define the architecture of governance directly back to the living electorate via a mandatory national referendum under Section 47(3).
2. Executive Office Restructuring and Unlimited Tenure
Transforming the appointment of the Head of State through two prospective tracks (unanimity via a decentralized broad electoral college, or a direct universal suffrage mandate) while ensuring the Presidential mandate remains free of term limitations to maintain full constitutional symmetry with the Prime Ministry.
3. Complete Outer Island Enshrinement
Repealing the outdated, paternalistic corporate framework of the Outer Islands Development Corporation (OIDC) over Agalega and St. Brandon, and establishing constitutionally protected Island Councils for Agalega, Cargados Carajos (St. Brandon), Tromelin, and the Chagos Archipelago alongside Rodrigues.
4. Institutional Integration and Devolved Executive Power
Mandating permanent senior technical representation for all component territories within every Ministry and parastatal board, alongside a constitutional right of Cabinet access for outer territory executive leaders.
5. Spatial Justice and Municipal Amalgamation Nodes
Creating a dynamic constitutional threshold automatically elevating rural villages with populations exceeding 10,000 residents (2022 Census) to Town status, and formally consolidating expanding contiguous conurbations (such as the Unified Town of Moka) to ensure equitable local governance.
6. National Assembly Franchise Overhaul
Transitioning from the archaic multi-member model to a modern First-Past-The-Post structure comprising 67 single-member constituencies—encompassing 60 main island segments, independent outer territory seats, and two distinct extraterritorial seats for the global Mauritian diaspora—while completely dismantling communal allocations.
7. Supreme Judicial Autonomy and Practice Entry Pathways
Repealing Section 81 to sever ties with the UK Privy Council in favor of a domestic supreme appellate court populated by elite global jurists (with a 15-year transitional UK chair for legal continuity), paired with universally opening the Council of Legal Education exam system to any law graduate regardless of degree origin.
8. Absolute Exclusivity of National Allegiance
Deleting historical clauses in Sections 33 and 34 that allow foreign Commonwealth nationals to contest elections, and enacting a strict single-citizenship requirement for all political candidacies, the public service, diplomatic corps, and all holders of independent Constitutional Posts.
9. Enactment of the Armed Forces of Mauritius
Establishing a formal, independent standing military force under absolute civilian presidential command to secure the state's land borders, expansive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), territorial seas, and extended continental shelves by systematically converting existing paramilitary assets (SMF and NCG).
10. Radical Property Reform over Public Domain
Amending the Code Civil Mauricien to completely abolish the legacy French colonial system of baux à perpétuité (perpetual leases) and executing a compulsory statutory conversion of all such remaining instruments into standardized 99-year state leaseholds to protect long-term public assets.
11. Linguistic Democracy and Civic Access
Replacing the rigid English-French parliamentary monopoly with an inclusive framework permitting any language backed by a 5% national census speaker baseline—fully validating Kreol Morisien inside the National Assembly and local councils—supported by comprehensive, real-time live translation infrastructures.
12. Eradication of Attire Discrimination Across All Sectors
Amending fundamental human rights protections to explicitly ban public bodies, private corporations, and non-profit organizations from weaponizing 'dress codes' against traditional, ancestral, or religious clothing, directly anchoring attire within the unassailable protection of "creed" and freedom of conscience.
Dr. Shafick Osman
(Mauritius)