Voters in Seychelles will return to the polls on Thursday for a run-off election between President Wavel Ramkalawan and opposition leader Patrick Herminie, a former National Assembly speaker whose United Seychelles party has already reclaimed a parliamentary majority.
In the first round last month, Herminie outpaced Ramkalawan by more than two percentage points, securing 48.8% of the over 64,000 ballots cast.
Seychelles, Africa’s wealthiest country per capita, spans 115 islands across 1.2 million square kilometres in the western Indian Ocean. The archipelago is a major tourist destination and a target for investment and security cooperation from China, Gulf nations and India. It is, however, among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations and faces one of the highest per-capita rates of heroin use.
Voting will begin on the outlying islands and for essential workers on Thursday, with polling stations on the three main islands opening on Saturday. Results are expected on Sunday.
Ramkalawan, a former Anglican priest, came to power in 2020, ending four decades of rule by United Seychelles, formerly the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front. He has campaigned on his handling of the post-pandemic economic recovery and pledged to strengthen social protection and infrastructure while maintaining the country’s neutrality to attract investment.
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His Linyon Demokratik Seselwa coalition, however, lost its parliamentary majority in last month’s legislative vote, meaning he could face a divided government if re-elected.
“I think the people of Seychelles want a balance of power to get the best deal,” Ramkalawan said
Herminie, who was arrested last year on dropped witchcraft charges, is seeking to restore United Seychelles’ control of both the presidency and parliament for the first time since 2015. His campaign has gained momentum through endorsements from eliminated candidates, including Marco Francis, who won around 2% of the first-round vote.
“We needed just 1% to win State House,” Herminie told supporters. “That means 500 votes. And today, I’m telling you: we will get those 500 votes and go to State House on October 11.”
Herminie’s platform includes lowering the retirement age raised under Ramkalawan and cancelling a hotel project opposed by environmentalists who say it threatens a UNESCO-listed coral atoll.
