Mauritius

Republic of Mauritius

The Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent. It was originally settled by the Dutch in 1610, but later abandoned due to climatic conditions and in 1715 re-settled by France. However, the island converted to British control during the Napoleonic Wars, after the French surrended to a British invasion of the island. The island became an independent state in 1968, and a full republic in 1992.

Mauritius has no standing army, but instead relegates all law enforcement and national security to a National Police Force of approximately 10,000 personnel. The NPF includes the following branches: the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU), Police Bike Patrol Unit, Anti-Robbery Squad (ARS), National Coast Guard (NCG), National Security Service (NSS), Police Helicopter Squadron (PHS), Special Mobile Force (SMF), Special Support Unit (SSU), and the Police Band. The Special Mobile Force is a paramilitary internal security unit and works closely with other military forces, including France, the United States, and India; it includes a special tactical unit, the Groupement d’Intervention de la Police Mauricienne (GIPM). The National Coast Guard includes a Commando Unit (which trains with the Indian Navy'S MARCOS and the French 2nd RPIMa; it also has a Maritime Air Squadron, and the 1st Patrol Vessel Squadron.

• Members of the SMF and elite units of the Coast Guard have worn British DPM pattern camouflage uniforms since the 1970s.