Mauritius sets new benchmark for African esports with landmark Regional Summit
Two-day summit draws top players, regional institutions, and the French President as Mauritius strengthens its role in African and Indian Ocean esports.
Mauritius.- Mauritius became the focal point of Africa’s fast-rising esports movement as it hosted the Esports Regional Summit 2025. The landmark gathering brought together leading players, industry professionals and institutional delegates from across the continent and the Indian Ocean.
Held from November 20-21 at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port Louis and the French Institute of Mauritius in Rose-Hill, the summit marked a major regional effort to build a more organised and future-focused esports landscape.
Organisers described the event as a critical step forward. “The Mauritius Esports Regional Summit 2025 brings together players, experts and institutions to strengthen regional cooperation around gaming and esports”, they said, emphasising the summit’s commitment to merging competitive action with broader ecosystem development.
Hosted by SAGES Africa, with support from the French Embassy in Mauritius, the French Institute of Mauritius, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the French Development Agency and MAU Esports, the summit gathered more than 100 representatives from federations, public bodies and esports organisations.
The IOC presented the first assessment of the esports landscape across the Indian Ocean region, while SAGES Africa introduced its Esports Champions Program, aimed at building talent and expanding educational opportunities for young players.
Spotlight on African esports talent
The summit also attracted high-level international attention. French President Emmanuel Macron attended the opening day, where he visited the international women’s Tekken 8 tournament and met teams competing in PUBG Mobile. He praised the initiative as “exemplary”, highlighting its commitment to inclusion, youth empowerment and regional cooperation, according to SAGES Africa.
Mauritius’ Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation, Avinash Ramtohul, also attended and reaffirmed the government’s support for building a dynamic and inclusive digital ecosystem, underscoring esports’ growing role in the country’s digital development strategy.
Competition remained central to the event. Madagascar’s Shilo “Jinx” Raveloson won the women’s Tekken 8 title, Mauritius’ Sheldon “Godslayer” Dantier secured the mixed Tekken 8 trophy and local team Reject X triumphed in the national PUBG Mobile tournament, showcasing the increasing depth of talent emerging from both mainland Africa and the island nations.
Workshops, roundtable discussions and networking sessions strengthened the summit’s wider goal of improving regional collaboration and creating a clear path for future growth.
By bringing institutions and athletes together under one roof, the Mauritius Esports Regional Summit 2025 positioned the island nation as a key driver of esports development across Africa and the Indian Ocean.
