The 86-year-old first became prime minister in 1982, beginning a third spell as leader in 2014.

In a televised address Mr Jugnauth said he was resigning in favour of a "younger and more dynamic leader". His son is currently finance minister.

Opposition parties have criticised the move but in practice there is little they can do to stop it.

The younger Jugnauth is head of the Militant Socialist Movement, the largest party in the governing coalition.

A former prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, warned that the family was turning Mauritius into a "banana republic".

Mauritius, an Indian Ocean archipelago, is a former British colony.

In his speech, Mr Jugnauth cited the "Westminster tradition", referring to the transfer of power from David Cameron to Theresa May in the UK without elections, local media reported.

He is due to hand in his resignation on Monday morning.