Seychelles, an archipelago situated in the western Indian Ocean, is gearing up for a pivotal election that will see its citizens voting for both a president and a parliament. The elections will give President Wavel Ramkalawan, elected for the first time in 2020, a chance to win a second term. Representing about 73,000 voters, domestic sovereignty, environmental justice and drug addiction are top concerns heading into this election.
The elections, scheduled for later this month, will be closely monitored by international observers given Seychelles’ strategic location as Africa’s wealthiest country per capita. The small island nation has been hit hard by COVID. According to the 2023 Global Organized Crime Index, Seychelles has had some of the highest heroin addiction rates globally. This urgent concern has led local leaders and citizens everywhere to demand immediate action and permanent, equitable policies.
Current Political Landscape
Wavel Ramkalawan has been at the helm of Seychelles since taking office in 2020. Today, though, he is emerging as the very leader the country needs to spark a strong economic recovery from the pandemic. Revitalizing the tourism-dependent economy has been the centerpiece of his administration’s agenda and is indispensable to their long term financial stability. Ramkalawan is running for a second five-year term. His objective, he tells us, is to accelerate economic growth while rolling out programs that drive social progress and address climate change.
As elections near once again, Ramkalawan’s challenges are myriad — not least a public outcry over the increasing drug trafficking that has made it Seychelles’s top priority. Yet a United Nations report from 2017 named Seychelles as one of the world’s largest transhipment hubs for heroin and cocaine, increasing addiction on the islands. The catch 22 has quickly emerged as one of the major talking points on the campaign trail as this political season heading into elections heats up.
International Relations and Investments
Seychelles’ location is very appealing to investors. China, the Gulf nations, and India all understand its strategic location and have ambitious plans for development there. This sudden surge of interest brings up uncomfortable questions about sovereignty and who controls our own national resources. Recently, activists have filed a constitutional case against the government’s long-term lease of part of Assumption Island to a Qatari company for the development of a luxury hotel and airstrip. This expensive project has fostered a huge grassroots outcry over what the project would mean for local communities and the environment.
These issues of sovereignty have not only manifested with economic investments made by foreign powers but with security cooperation. As global dynamics continue to ebb and flow, Seychelles is now, more than ever, at a pivotal point where it must navigate these external influences on its own.
