Seychelles president seeks reelection on back of economic recovery

25/9/2025 15:27

Voting began on Thursday in Seychelles' election where incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan and allied lawmakers are looking to block a comeback by the party that dominated politics for four decades.



The archipelago is Africa's wealthiest country per capita, with a location in the western Indian Ocean that makes it a target for investment and security cooperation from India, China and Gulf States.



Ramkalawan, a former Anglican priest, says he is seeking a second five-year term to build social protections and infrastructure while defending the country's neutrality to draw investment.



His main rival, United Seychelles' candidate Patrick Herminie, has said the population of 120,000 is suffering from soaring living costs, declining standards in schools, corruption, and drug abuse, problems he has promised to tackle.