The Underlying Reasons for Kishore Beegoo's Resignation

Last Thursday, the news broke like an already leaked secret: Kishore Beegoo, Chairman of the Board of Air Mauritius, has resigned. This outcome surprised no one in the political and economic circles of Port-Louis. For several weeks, tensions had escalated between Deputy Prime Minister Paul Bérenger and the president of the national airline, reaching a boiling point.

This departure was not an accident or a technical disagreement; it marked the end of a power struggle between two strong-willed individuals, each asserting their authority and vision for public governance.

The relationship between Paul Bérenger and Kishore Beegoo had become explosive. Both men, known for their strong personalities and reluctance to compromise, had engaged in numerous confrontations, sometimes publicly.

Everything changed last week when interim Prime Minister Paul Bérenger publicly expressed regret over the suspension of Air Mauritius flights to Madagascar, calling it a “lack of coordination” and a “diplomatic and humanitarian disservice” to Mauritians stranded on the neighboring island.

Kishore Beegoo's sharp response came in a statement on October 16, reminding that decisions regarding flight cancellations or additions fall under the Board’s purview, not the government’s, thereby insinuating that the Deputy Prime Minister had overstepped his bounds. This statement, viewed as offensive by the Government House, marked a point of no return.

The Threat of Political Break

During the Cabinet meeting on October 17, Paul Bérenger reportedly expressed his deep irritation, announcing his intention to revisit “the Beegoo case” upon the return of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, expected on October 20. A Labour Senior Minister reportedly suggested: “If he needs to be dismissed, let’s do it, because Navin Ramgoolam has repeatedly asked him not to act unilaterally and to respect government members.”

Indeed, as soon as Prime Minister Ramgoolam landed, Paul Bérenger brought the issue back to the table, emphasizing “the urgency for a strong political signal.” Concerned about preserving the coalition's stability, Ramgoolam asked him to wait two weeks. However, events would soon unfold rapidly.

The Final Straw

On October 22, in an interview with Business Magazine, Kishore Beegoo crossed another line. He discussed financial projections indicating that Air Mauritius could incur losses of Rs 6.1 billion under a potential agreement with Qatar Airways. The issue was that this partnership with Qatar was part of a broader plan to open up Mauritian airspace and invest in liquefied natural gas (LNG), a project led by Paul Bérenger. In the Deputy Prime Minister's eyes, this public statement amounted to sabotaging a strategic government policy.

At this point, Paul Bérenger no longer wanted compromise or delay. He made it clear to Navin: Enough is enough. He signaled that he would rather “leave the government than tolerate Beegoo's attitude any longer.”

Refusing to humiliate his friend, the Prime Minister then invited Kishore Beegoo to submit his resignation, which he did on Thursday, October 23.

A Loose Tongue

This is not the first time Kishore Beegoo has spoken his mind openly. On August 9, in an interview with Défi Plus, he had already sent a veiled message to Paul Bérenger, who had made critical remarks about Air Mauritius: “The management of Air Mauritius is not conducted based on the whims or passing moods of politicians. We do not run the national airline based on media statements or political calculations, but in the best interest of the country.” This statement, made in the heat of the moment, stuck in the Deputy Prime Minister's throat.

The Emirates Affair

According to our sources, Kishore Beegoo has been under Paul Bérenger's scrutiny since June 2025, when the strategic partnership between Air Mauritius and Emirates was renewed. This agreement includes reciprocal code-sharing on several routes beyond the respective hubs of both airlines, as well as enhanced cooperation in loyalty programs and air freight.

“The renewal of our long-standing partnership with Emirates is a significant milestone for Air Mauritius. Emirates is one of our major strategic partners, and this strengthened agreement illustrates the close relationship between our two companies,” Kishore Beegoo had stated at that time. However, this rapprochement did not sit well with everyone in the government. Several Executive members, including Paul Bérenger, questioned the appropriateness of a partnership perceived as overly favorable to Emirates, especially when the State was looking to open Mauritian airspace to Qatar Airways, aiming for broader cooperation with Doha. For some, this initiative by Kishore Beegoo was seen as a diplomatic and strategic counter-move against the Deputy Prime Minister's policies.

A History of Past Frictions

But this animosity is not recent. It dates back to 2001 when Paul Bérenger was already Deputy Prime Minister and Kishore Beegoo was the head of Air Mauritius's Cargo department. At that time, Beegoo incurred the wrath of several ministers by refusing to grant “special packages” for religious imports. Sociocultural organizations complained to Paul Bérenger, who could do little in the face of Kishore Beegoo's resistance.

A few months later, he was dismissed following incidents with the Malagasy authorities — a firing that many interpreted as a sanction.

Two decades later, the scenario seems to be replaying itself almost identically.