Seychelles to vote with sovereignty, environment and drugs on agenda

Voting has begun successful the outlying islands, with polling stations connected the 3 main islands opening this weekend.

Voting has begun successful the Seychelles‘ elections, with incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan hoping to triumph a 2nd word starring the strategically located African archipelago.

Polls opened successful outlying islands and for immoderate indispensable workers connected Thursday. Ballot stations connected the 3 main islands unfastened connected Saturday and results are owed connected Sunday successful elections that volition prime a president and parliament, and are dominated by concerns implicit sovereignty, the situation and drugs.

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About 73,000 voters volition take from 8 statesmanlike candidates and 125 challengers for the 35-seat National Assembly, successful which Ramkalawan hopes to support a bulk for his Linyon Demokratik Seselwa coalition.

Africa’s wealthiest state per capita is an archipelago successful the occidental Indian Ocean. Its determination makes it a people for concern from, and information practice with, China, Gulf nations and India.

Ramkalawan has steered the tourism-dependent system done a post-pandemic betterment and says helium wants a 2nd five-year word to physique the system further, and boost societal improvement and biology sustainability.

His main rival for the presidency, Patrick Herminie of the United Seychelles Party that governed from 1977 to 2020, served arsenic talker of the National Assembly from 2007 to 2016.

Key issues

A terrible narcotics crisis, biology challenges and questions astir sovereignty are among the cardinal issues for voters.

A 2017 United Nations study identified the archipelago arsenic a large cause transhipment point. The 2023 Global Organized Crime Index cited Seychelles arsenic having 1 of the world’s highest rates of heroin addiction.

The Agency for Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation (APDAR) estimates determination are astir 6,000 users, though analysts suggest addiction rates are person to 10 percent of its 120,000 population.

Critics accidental governmental efforts person agelong failed to woody with the issue, peculiarly scrutinising the tenure of erstwhile APDAR chairman, Herminie.

Sovereignty is different concern, with concern projects raising complaints.

Activists person filed a law lawsuit against the government’s semipermanent lease of portion of Assumption Island to a Qatari institution for a luxury edifice and airstrip.

Critics accidental the deal, which affects an land adjacent the UNESCO practice tract of Aldabra Atoll, favours overseas interests implicit Seychelles’ payment and sovereignty.

Meanwhile, biology groups are demanding greater transparency from the government, citing emerging issues similar dredging and harm to section wildlife.

If nary of the statesmanlike contenders secures 50 percent + 1 successful the vote, a run-off volition travel betwixt the apical two.