AGP Executive Report

Chagos Islands: Britain is set to revisit its deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius after US President Donald Trump again called it “terrible”, with Defence Secretary Wes Streeting saying the pact “can’t go ahead” without American support and that Mauritius-bound payments are paused “at this stage”. UK–Mauritius dispute: The proposed arrangement keeps the Diego Garcia UK-US military base under a 99-year lease, but US backing is now the sticking point, leaving the treaty’s parliamentary steps and funding in limbo. Politics and pushback: The row has also sparked fresh criticism and debate around who can stand up for British overseas territories, as Trump’s stance continues to drive uncertainty over the timeline for any revised agreement. Regional finance: The AU plans to launch its Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) in Mauritius on 7 October 2026, aiming to challenge Western rating dominance and improve how African sovereign risk is assessed.

Chagos Islands: US President Donald Trump told UK PM Andy Burnham the planned transfer of Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius is “terrible,” calling it “ridiculous” and stressing Diego Garcia’s strategic military value, while Burnham said he will review and work for a resolution to safeguard the base. UN diplomacy: The pair’s first face-to-face meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York ran longer than expected, with Trump praising Burnham as a “natural business person” and claiming US-UK ties are “more up” than under Keir Starmer, even as policy differences remained sharp. AI and security: Burnham used his UN debut to push for global standards to manage AI risks and vowed to be “unflinching” in defending Britain against Russia’s “industrial-scale assault” of disinformation. Mauritius in finance: In a separate Mauritius-linked development, India’s Competition Commission cleared FIH Mauritius Investments’ bid to buy an additional stake in IIFL Capital Services. Sports (Mauritius): At the COSAFA U-20 qualifiers, Mozambique thrashed Mauritius 5-0, leaving the Junior Flames needing a huge win to stay in semi-final contention.

Chagos Islands Diplomacy: UK PM Andy Burnham told Mauritius he will do “everything possible” with the USA to push the Chagos treaty toward ratification, while acknowledging no final resolution is in place as Trump’s administration continues to stall the deal tied to Diego Garcia operations. Mauritius Tourism & Business: Banyan Group says it has bought a majority stake in Newmark Hotels & Reserves, adding 26 properties across Mauritius and other African markets, as it expands wildlife and nature-focused hospitality. Travel Trade: WTM Africa 2027 buyer registration is now open for the 7–9 April 2027 event in Cape Town, listing Mauritius among key Indian Ocean destinations expected to feature. Sports (Local Interest): Mauritius is mentioned in the context of chess and youth football results, including Barbados beating Mauritius in the women’s Chess Olympiad round and Namibia’s Young Warriors edging Mauritius in COSAFA U-20 qualifiers. Payments & Tech: PhonePe received in-principle approval from the UAE central bank for two licences, signaling a move beyond cross-border UPI toward regulated UAE payments. Markets & Finance: STARTRADER launched two new 24/7 USD CFD instruments referencing Shanghai-listed CXMT and Unitree Robotics, while separate coverage notes institutional investors largely retained exposure in India’s NSE IPO.

Chagos Talks With Mauritius: UK PM Andy Burnham says he’s committed to resolving the Diego Garcia/Chagos dispute with Mauritius, including keeping the base operating while the handover legislation works through Parliament—ahead of crunch US President Donald Trump talks. Mauritius-Linked Sports: Seychelles beat Mauritius 4-3 in the TotalEnergies CAF U20/COSAFA qualifier, with Lorenzo Hoareau scoring a hat-trick; Mauritius also faced another setback as Namibia took control in the same tournament. Mauritius in Finance & Trade: MCB, with ETG and partners, completed Africa’s first electronic bill of exchange under Mauritian law, using Mauritius’ digital trade reforms to speed up cross-border financing. Mauritius in Business & Markets: Soach Global (Mauritius) begins an NSE offer-for-sale, aiming for a major return on its long-held NSE stake; Goldman Sachs Investments Mauritius bought into Lord’s Mark Industries. Travel & Tourism: WTM Africa 2027 buyer registration opens, with Mauritius listed among Indian Ocean destinations.

Mauritius-India ties: The Indian High Commission in Port Louis inaugurated an Ayurveda Information Corner at the University of Mauritius, ahead of Ayurveda Day 2026, with a half-day symposium bringing together officials, researchers and students. Mauritius finance: MCB, with partners, completed Africa’s first electronic Bill of Exchange under Mauritian law, using an electronic process that cut trade documentation handling from days to under an hour. Chagos diplomacy: Ahead of Andy Burnham’s Trump meeting, Nigel Farage urged a tougher line on Chagos, while reports say Burnham will speak with Mauritius’ PM Navin Ramgoolam to discuss implementing the Chagos surrender deal. Sports (region): Benin swept AirBadminton gold with a 3-0 win over Mauritius, while in U-20 qualifiers Seychelles beat Mauritius 4-3 and Namibia edged Mozambique 1-0 to top Group A. Business/markets (Mauritius-linked): Soach Global Strategic Holdings, a Mauritius-based firm, began exiting its NSE stake via the IPO offer for sale, targeting nearly 25x returns on part of its holding.

Mauritius–India Ties: The University of Mauritius inaugurated an Ayurveda Information Corner, with a half-day symposium ahead of Ayurveda Day 2026, as the Indian High Commission in Port Louis said the new hub will give students and researchers access to Ayurveda resources. Sports (Mauritius in focus): Mauritius’ AirBadminton campaign ended in Entebbe with a tough 3-0 loss to Benin in the men’s triples final, after reaching the title match with a 3-2 win over Egypt in the semi-finals. Regional Football: Zimbabwe’s Young Warriors are set to enter camp in Harare to prepare for their CAF Olympic qualifier against Mauritius, with the first leg in Mauritius on Sept 30 and the return on Oct 6. Business & Finance: Paga CEO Tayo Oviosu says the fintech processes about $1.5 billion in monthly transactions, with the company valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Health & Science: A major scientific review highlights Leucas aspera (Dronapushpi), a traditional Indian herb also found in Mauritius, as showing broad drug potential.

AirBadminton (Mauritius): Benin swept Mauritius 3-0 in the men’s triples final in Entebbe, taking African gold just two days after a Team Relay silver. UCI Road Worlds (Mauritius-linked): Defending champion Marlen Reusser won the elite women’s time trial in Montreal, claiming the rainbow jersey after a strong final push. Mauritius & UK travel: Mauritian citizens are generally visa-exempt for short UK visits, but still need an ETA under UK rules. Politics (Mauritius in Russia vote): Voting in Russia’s State Duma elections began across dozens of African countries, including Mauritius, with polling also reported at Russian missions in Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania. Aviation (Mauritius route): Emirates lists A380 service including Mauritius among its wide network, with the airline operating 85 A380s in service. Mauritius recognition: President Dharambeer Gokhool presented the Crown Jewel of World Tamils award to VIT VP Sekar Viswanathan during a World Tamil Economic Conference in Mauritius. Indian Ocean diplomacy: Chagos sovereignty remains on the agenda as the Maldives presses for talks, adding another claimant to the dispute.

Mauritius in the spotlight: Namibia beat Mauritius 1-0 in the COSAFA U-20 opener, with captain Lukas Sakeus scoring in the 43rd minute, while Mauritius now turn to their next match after the early setback. Regional sport ties: The Junior Jaguars are set for the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup Festival in Baku, with Mauritius in their group, adding fresh international exposure for young players from the region. Local recognition: Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool honoured VIT vice-president Sekar Viswanathan with the “Crown Jewel of World Tamils” award at the Global Tamils Economic Conference held in Mauritius. Finance and trade links: India’s outward FDI commitments rose 23.3% to USD 3.8bn in August, with major corporate guarantees routed through Mauritius-based subsidiaries, underlining the island’s role in regional investment flows. Ports and connectivity: A World Bank ranking put Port Louis among East Indian Ocean ports, showing how Mauritius’ maritime performance is being benchmarked globally.

Mauritius in the spotlight: Namibia kicked off the COSAFA U-20 Africa Cup qualifier with a 1-0 win over Mauritius, captain Lukas Sakeus scoring in the 43rd minute, setting up a quick turnaround for the Young Warriors as they face hosts Mozambique next. Regional diplomacy: Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool honoured VIT vice-president Dr Sekar Viswanathan at the World Tamil Economic Conference in Mauritius, where he received the “Crown Jewel of World Tamils” award. Anti-corruption push: SADC Vice-President Kembo Mohadi said the fight against corruption must be tied to development goals, urging states to track and recover stolen assets so they can fund schools, hospitals and jobs. Indian Ocean security: A new analysis warns Indian Ocean states face a “response dilemma” from grey-zone Chinese maritime activity, including research vessels and underwater systems that can disable tracking. Business and investment links: India’s regulator cleared Lakshmi Mittal’s purchase of three cricket franchises, with the Mauritius-incorporated structure controlling teams including South Africa’s Paarl Royals. Trade and ports: A World Bank ranking put Port Louis among the region’s lower-ranked container ports, while Djibouti and Mogadishu surged in performance.

Mauritius in Education & Culture: VIT vice-president Dr Sekar Viswanathan received the “Crown Jewel of World Tamils” award at a Global Tamils Economic Conference in Mauritius, with President Dharambeer Gokhool presiding. Anti-Corruption & Development: VP Kembo Mohadi said the fight against corruption in Southern Africa must be tied to development priorities, arguing stolen resources should be tracked, recovered and put back into schools, health and infrastructure. Sports—COSAFA U-20: Namibia beat Mauritius 1-0 in the COSAFA qualifier opener, with captain Lukas Sakeus scoring in the 43rd minute; Mauritius next faces Seychelles while Namibia plays Mozambique. Ports & Trade Links: A World Bank ranking put Djibouti, Mogadishu and Dar es Salaam among the top East and Horn of Africa ports, with Port Louis listed at 369 globally. Finance & Markets: Africa’s new Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) is set to expand rated African financial instruments and boost investor confidence. Energy Reality Check: A new report highlights Africa’s “access versus reliability” problem—many households are connected but still face outages and unstable power.

COSAFA Football: Namibia’s Young Warriors kicked off their COSAFA U-20 qualifier campaign with a 1-0 win over Mauritius, captain Lukas Sakeus scoring in the 43rd minute; Namibia next face Mozambique on 20 September. Mauritius in Global Finance: Shapoorji Pallonji’s Mauritius-linked SP Group dollar bonds hit a record as investors bet on a possible Tata Sons listing to ease repayment pressure. Local Business & Hospitality: Banyan Group agreed to buy a majority stake in Newmark Hotels & Reserves, adding 26 hotels, lodges and reserves across seven African countries including Mauritius, with Newmark keeping its brand and local teams. Sports Business (Mauritius-linked structure): India’s CCI cleared Lakshmi Mittal family and Poonawalla’s acquisition of Rajasthan Royals, Paarl Royals and Barbados Royals, held via a Mauritius-based holding company. Regional Governance: SADC anti-corruption push in Zimbabwe urged members to track and recover stolen assets, not just secure convictions. Tech/Travel: South Korea published a list of 42 countries eligible for Smart Entry Gates; no African nation made the cut.

STEM Education Boost: President Mnangagwa capped 2,570 graduates at Zimbabwe’s NUST, with 68% taking STEM degrees and female participation rising to 52% in the August 2026 intake. Mauritius in Global Tech: Apple expanded iCloud+ bundles to include Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no extra cost, now covering Mauritius among 100+ countries. Cricket Business: India’s CCI cleared Lakshmi Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla’s purchase of Rajasthan Royals plus two overseas franchises, including Mauritius-linked holding structures. Hospitality Expansion: Banyan Group agreed a phased majority acquisition of Newmark Hotels & Reserves, adding 26 properties across seven African countries including Mauritius. Travel Rules Hit: Thailand tightened visa-free access, cutting South Africans to 30 days and downgrading Mauritius to 15 days under the new system. Sports (Regional): Mauritius is set to face Namibia in the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations/COSAFA qualifier in Mozambique starting 18 September. Rights Debate in Mauritius: LGBTQ+ campaigners renewed calls for marriage equality after Mauritius’ NHRC said there’s no explicit legal ban on same-sex marriage.

Mauritius-India Tourism: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority launched a four-city push in India (Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad), aiming to broaden travel beyond beaches into family, luxury, MICE, wellness, golf and adventure; Indian arrivals rose to 51,005 in Jan–Jul 2026 (+14.5% YoY). Local Rights & Equality: LGBTQ+ campaigners in Mauritius renewed calls for same-sex marriage equality after the National Human Rights Commission said Mauritian law has no explicit ban, and that refusal by the Civil Status Office could amount to discrimination. Finance & Markets (Mauritius link): Mauritius-based Aranda Investments is among key holders in India’s NSE IPO story, while Soach Global Strategic Holdings (Mauritius) is set for a major partial exit in the NSE offer for sale, turning a Rs 59.25 crore investment into a much larger payday. Aviation (regional): Ethiopian Airlines will start daily direct flights between Durban and Addis Ababa from 11 December, boosting East Africa connectivity for travellers and freight. Global Mobility Watch: Kenya’s passport fell 52 places to 120th globally, and Thailand’s new visa rules cut visa-free access for several countries including Mauritius to 15 days.

Mauritius Tourism in India: The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority is pushing deeper ties with a four-city drive in Pune, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, after welcoming 51,005 Indian visitors in Jan–July 2026 (+14.5%); the push spotlights more than beach holidays, including family, luxury, MICE, wellness, golf, gastronomy and adventure. Telecom Brand Update: AXIAN Telecom has rebranded as Yas Group, unifying its corporate identity while keeping customer-facing business names, as the group reports strong growth in mobile and mobile financial services. Chagossians’ Return Blocked: A US move is blocking an agreement meant to let displaced Chagossians living in Mauritius return to Diego Garcia, with the dispute tied to control of the US base. UPI Fee Debate in India: India says there will be no rollback of the proposed 0.4% MDR on UPI merchant payments above Rs 2,000 from Oct 15, even as legal challenges and political criticism continue. NSE IPO Watch: India’s National Stock Exchange IPO opens Sept 17 with a Rs 1,700–1,785 price band, lot size of 8 shares, and an all–Offer For Sale structure. Sports Link to Mauritius: CAF Champions League second-round draw sets Orlando Pirates against Namibia’s African Stars, after Pirates advanced by beating Mauritius’ La Cure Waves.

Tax Reform Push: India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says structural tax changes are meant to cut litigation “at source,” not just manage backlogs, and urged industry and researchers to submit quantified, workable alternatives beyond rate cuts and exemptions. UPI MDR No-Rollback: Government sources say there will be no reversal of the 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate on UPI merchant payments above Rs 2,000 from Oct 15, with the charge capped and framed as needed for UPI’s long-term sustainability and security. Mauritius Link in Global Policy: Sitharaman also noted India renegotiated tax treaties with Mauritius (plus Singapore and Cyprus) to restore taxing rights on capital gains at source. Travel & Connectivity: flydubai expands interline links with Air India and Uzbekistan Airways, boosting connections that include Mauritius via Dubai. Regional Business/People: A French tutor based in Livingston (Mauritius) has been shortlisted for a UK-wide business awards finalist spot. Consumer Alert: A shampoo recall tied to a COMESA alert includes Mauritius among export destinations, urging customers to stop using and seek refunds.

UPI Fees Update: India’s RBI has backed a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate on UPI person-to-merchant payments above Rs 2,000, starting October 15, while keeping person-to-person transfers and UPI payments up to Rs 2,000 free for users; the MDR is framed as a merchant-side ecosystem charge, with a cap of Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above. Mauritius Link: IBIA says regulatory limits on South Africa’s Algoa Bay offshore bunkering are pushing some vessel traffic to Mauritius, which is reporting strong bunker volumes. Tech & Media: Apple is expanding iCloud+ into a bigger bundle in 100+ countries, adding Apple TV and Apple Arcade (and a limited Apple Music Select) at no extra charge, though the US and some major regions are excluded. Travel Rules: Thailand ends its 60-day visa-free scheme from September 15, cutting stays to 30 days for many nationalities and tightening visa-on-arrival access. Sports (Mauritius): Junior midfielder Brooklyn Jheemla has been named to Mauritius’ Women’s A Team squad for an Olympic qualifying tournament.