Seychelles to Hold Rerun Presidential Election as Initial Vote Yields No Clear Winner
VICTORIA, Seychelles – Seychelles will hold a rerun presidential election after incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan of the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa party failed to secure an outright majority in Saturday’s vote, according to the Seychelles Electoral Commission. The election took place across the 115-island archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean, with early voting begining Thursday.
The close result reflects growing opposition to Ramkalawan’s government, wich campaigned on economic recovery, social development, and environmental sustainability. While Seychelles boasts the highest GDP per capita in Africa, according to the World Bank, voters have expressed concerns over issues including a growing drug crisis, foreign investment, and the impacts of climate change.
Seychelles, with a population of approximately 120,000, has experienced increasing challenges with heroin addiction. A 2017 U.N. report identified the country as a major drug transit route, and the 2023 Global Organized Crime Index indicated one of the world’s highest rates of heroin addiction, with estimates suggesting up to 6,000 users.
The election also followed controversy surrounding a recent government decision to lease part of assomption Island, the country’s largest, to a qatari company for a luxury hotel development, including reconstruction of an airstrip. critics argued the deal prioritized foreign interests over Seychelles’ sovereignty.
The nation is particularly vulnerable to climate change, including rising sea levels, spanning approximately 390,000 square kilometers (around 150,000 square miles) in the Indian Ocean.The date for the rerun election has not yet been announced.
