Mauritius, a small island off the coast of Madagascar, was uninhabited until the 17th century. Its early Dutch and French rulers began importing slaves in the 18th century. At slavery’s peak, slaves accounted for an estimated 85 percent of the population. In 1810, the British gained control of the country, where slavery continued until its abolition in 1835. Mauritius gained its independence from Great Britain in 1968.

In February 2009, Mauritian President Sir Anerood Jugnauth established the Truth and Justice Commission to conduct an inquiry into slavery and indentured labour under colonialism, as well as to determine reparations for descendants of slaves and indentured labourers. (Read more about the commission.)