Mauritius became an independent country on March 12, 1968, after a long struggle involving several political parties. The country gained its independence from the United Kingdom and joined the Commonwealth. The British monarch remained the head of state, represented by a governor-general on the island.
Here are some key details about Mauritius' independence:
Constitution
The country's constitution was adopted in 1968, making it a constitutional monarchy.
Government
In 1991, Mauritius passed a constitutional amendment to establish a republic with a president as head of state. The amendment went into effect in 1992.