Independence 12 March 1992

The Dutch Originally colonized Mauritius in the 17th century, from 1715 Mauritius then went under French rule and until 1810 when Mauritius was taken over by the British. On 12th March 1968 it achieved independence within the Commonwealth with Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam as prime minister (leader of the MLP AND Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State (until 12 March 1992 when Mauritius became a Republic) represented by a Governor General. 12th March is known as National Day Mauritius has changed drastically from a sugar-producing island to a newly industrialised nation since independence.