Mauritian President Rajkeswar Purryag resigned on Friday from his position before completing his term.

Purryag said in a statement he had agreed with Jugnauth in January that he would step down in May.

During last December's election campaign, Jugnauth's party said it would nominate Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, a researcher and scientist, to the post.

If confirmed, Gurib-Fakim would be the first woman to be president of the Indian Ocean Island.