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| Constitution |
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade (French: Ministre des Affaires étrangères, Intégration régionale et Commerce extérieur) is a cabinet minister responsible for conducting foreign relations of Mauritius. The office was established in 1968 after the country gained independence from the United Kingdom, with prime minister Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam becoming the first foreign minister.
Holders of the office have been senior figures of parties in the government, yet several ministers have been fired or resigned from the office due to conflicts with the prime minister.[1] Arvin Boolell is the only foreign minister to have held the office throughout a complete parliamentary term, from 2010 to 2014.
The office has undergone several name and portfolio changes over time, with the present iteration having additional responsibilities for regional cooperation and international trade. Until the 1990s, the portfolio was referred to in English as Minister of External Affairs.
Since the installation of the new government after the 2024 general election, Ritish Ramful of the Labour Party has held the office after being appointed on 22 November 2024.
The following is a list of foreign ministers of Mauritius since its founding in 1968:[2]
| Portrait | Name | Term of office | Portfolio name | Party | Prime minister | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | ||||||
| Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (1900–1985) |
12 March 1968 |
1 December 1969 |
External Affairs, Tourism and Emigration | PTr | S. Ramgoolam | ||
| Gaëtan Duval[3][4] (1930–1996) |
1 December 1969 |
17 December 1973 |
PMSD | ||||
| Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam[4][5] (1900–1985) |
17 December 1973 |
June 1976 |
PTr | ||||
|
Sir Harold Walter[6] (1920–1992) |
June 1976 |
15 June 1982 |
PTr | |||
| Jean-Claude de l'Estrac[7][8] (born 1948) |
15 June 1982 |
22 March 1983 |
MMM | A. Jugnauth | |||
| Anil Gayan[9] (born 1948) |
28 March 1983 |
14 January 1986 |
MSM | ||||
| Madan Dulloo[10] (born 1949) |
14 January 1986 |
8 August 1986 |
External Affairs and Emigration | MSM | |||
| Sir Satcam Boolell[11][12][13][14] (1920–2006) |
8 August 1986 |
18 August 1990 |
PTr | ||||
| Madan Dulloo (born 1949) |
18 August 1990 |
25 September 1990 |
MSM | ||||
| Jean-Claude de l'Estrac[15] (born 1948) |
25 September 1990 |
27 September 1991 |
MMM | ||||
| Paul Bérenger[16][17] (born 1945) |
27 September 1991 |
18 August 1993 |
External Affairs | MMM | |||
|
Swalay Kasenally[18][19] (born 1937) |
28 August 1993 |
26 August 1994 |
MMM | |||
|
Ramduthsing Jaddoo[20] | 26 August 1994 |
30 December 1995 |
MSM | |||
| Paul Bérenger[21][22][23] (born 1945) |
30 December 1995 |
20 June 1997 |
Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation | MMM | N. Ramgoolam | ||
| Navin Ramgoolam[22] (born 1947) |
20 June 1997 |
July 1997 |
PTr | ||||
| Kailash Purryag[22] (born 1947) |
July 1997 |
17 September 2000 |
Foreign Affairs and International Trade | PTr | |||
| Anil Gayan[24] (born 1948) |
17 September 2000 |
30 September 2003 |
Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation | MSM | A. Jugnauth | ||
| Jaya Krishna Cuttaree[25] (born 1941) |
30 September 2003 |
7 July 2005 |
Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation | MMM | Bérenger | ||
| Madan Dulloo[25] (born 1949) |
7 July 2005 |
17 March 2008 |
Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation | MMSM | N. Ramgoolam | ||
| Navin Ramgoolam (born 1947) Acting |
17 March 2008 |
13 September 2008 |
PTr | ||||
| Arvin Boolell[26] (born 1953) |
13 September 2008 |
17 December 2014 |
Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade | PTr | |||
| Étienne Sinatambou[26][27] (born 1963) |
17 December 2014 |
14 March 2016 |
MSM | A. Jugnauth | |||
| Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo[26] (born 1944) |
14 March 2016 |
12 November 2019 |
MSM | ||||
| P. Jugnauth | |||||||
| Nando Bodha[28] (born 1954) |
12 November 2019 |
6 February 2021 |
MSM | ||||
| Alan Ganoo[28] (born 1954) |
6 February 2021 |
30 August 2023 |
MPM | ||||
| Maneesh Gobin[28] (born 1975) |
30 August 2023 |
22 November 2024 |
MSM | ||||
| Ritish Ramful[29] | 22 November 2024 |
Incumbent | PTr | N. Ramgoolam | |||