Seychelles to Hold Rerun Presidential Election as Initial Vote Yields No Clear Winner
VICTORIA,โ Seychelles – Seychelles will hold a rerun presidential electionโฃ after incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan of the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa party failed to secure an outright majorityโข in Saturday’s vote, โaccording to the Seychelles Electoral Commission. The election took place across the 115-island โขarchipelago nation in the Indian Ocean, with early votingโ begining Thursday.
The close result reflectsโข growing opposition to Ramkalawan’s government, โwich campaigned on economic recovery, social development, and environmental sustainability. While Seychelles boasts the highest GDP per capita in Africa, โคaccording to โthe World Bank, voters have expressed concerns over issues including a growing drug crisis, foreign investment, and the impacts of climate change.
Seychelles,โฃ withโ a population of approximately 120,000, has experienced increasingโ challenges with heroin โฃaddiction. A 2017 U.N. report identified the country as a major drugโ transit route, and the โ2023 Global Organized Crime Index indicated one of the world’sโข highest rates of heroinโข addiction, with estimates suggesting up to 6,000 users.
The election also followed controversy surrounding a recent government decision to lease part ofโ assomption Island, the country’s largest, to a qatariโข company for aโค luxury hotel development,โค including โขreconstruction of an airstrip. critics argued the โขdeal prioritized foreign interests over Seychelles’ sovereignty.
The nation is particularly vulnerable to climate change, including rising sea levels,โข spanning approximately 390,000โฃ square kilometers (around 150,000 square miles) in the Indian Ocean.Theโ date for the rerun electionโค has not yet been announced.