Wakashio, six years later: Soobash Hurree aims to take the fight to the international stage
As the sixth anniversary of the shipwreck approaches, activist Soobash Hurree is considering action on the international stage, due to the lack of clearly identified responsible parties. The ecological and judicial outcomes remain unresolved.
As Mauritius approaches the sixth anniversary of the worst oil spill in its history, activist Soobash Hurree is reigniting pressure. According to Défimédia, he demonstrated on July 13 in front of Parliament to remind that after nearly six years, those responsible for the disaster have still not been clearly identified or sanctioned. Believing that the national path is stagnating, he is now considering taking the case to the international stage.
The reminder of the facts remains painful. On July 25, 2020, the MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier of about 300 meters flying the Panamanian flag and operated by the Japanese shipping company Nagashiki Shipping, ran aground on the reefs off Pointe-d’Esny, in the southeast of the island. According to Défimédia, approximately 1,000 tons of hydrocarbons then spilled into the lagoon, causing an unprecedented ecological disaster for the archipelago.
An ongoing ecological assessment
Six years later, the affected area — near the Blue Bay marine park and fragile mangroves — still bears the scars of the disaster. Fishermen, boaters, and tourism operators along the southeast coast report that their livelihoods have been sustainably affected. The question of long-term environmental monitoring, as well as the rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems, remains at the heart of the concerns of residents in the Southeast.
An unresolved judicial aspect
On the judicial front, the case has long stalled. The report from the Court of Investigation, kept sealed for years, was only made public on October 2, 2025, reports l’express. The document notably points out gaps in route planning, the absence of appropriate nautical charts, insufficient crew supervision, and non-compliance with maritime safety procedures, while also implicating the management system of the shipowner.
Regarding reparations, progress is considered slow. According to local media, the NGO Eco-Sud has sought to bring the case to the Supreme Court to claim compensation from the involved Japanese companies, while, according to LINFO.re, 1,762 residents and operators from the affected region have demanded about 5.3 billion rupees. For Soobash Hurree, this sluggishness precisely justifies the need to resort to an international body, which he believes is the only entity capable of ensuring accountability.
Looking ahead, the Wakashio case has become, in Mauritius, a symbol of a missed opportunity between environmental disaster and institutional response. The initiative announced by the activist, if realized, will test the ability of a small island state to obtain reparations from major players in global maritime transport — an issue that far exceeds the boundaries of the Pointe-d’Esny lagoon.
L’équipe éditoriale de ZotNews. Une rédaction indépendante qui vérifie et cite ses sources pour informer l’île Maurice.
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