Seychelles General Elections: What You Need to Know
Seychelles General Elections: What You Need to Know
Over 77,000 Seychellois are voting in presidential and legislative elections running from September 25–27.
Ballots opened Thursday for residents of remote islands and essential workers, with the main vote taking place Saturday across the three largest islands.
8⃣Eight presidential candidates are in the race, led by:
Wavel Ramkalawan — former Anglican priest and incumbent president, leader of the Seychellois Democratic Alliance, seeking a second term
Patrick Herminie — leader of the United Seychelles, the main opposition party
A candidate needs over 50% of votes to win outright; otherwise, the top two advance to a runoff.
Voters are also choosing members of the National Assembly—26 directly elected representatives plus up to 9 chosen by proportional representation. Both the presidency and assembly serve five-year terms.
Key Context:
Seychelles is an Indian Ocean archipelago of 115 islands, with about 120,000 people, three-quarters of whom live on the main island, Mahé.
It is Africa’s richest nation per capita, driven by tourism and fishing, but faces rising living costs, climate risks, and a serious heroin crisis affecting nearly 10% of its population.
Politically, Seychelles transitioned from a one-party state after independence in 1976 to a multiparty democracy in 1993. United Seychelles dominated until Ramkalawan’s 2020 win.
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