African state’s opposition leader wins elections
The leader of Seychelles’ main opposition party has won the East African country’s presidential elections, denying incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan a second term in a rerun of a highly contested vote.
Patrick Herminie of the United Seychelles (US) Party secured 52.7% of the vote, compared with 47.3% for Ramkalawan, official results released by the Electoral Commission on Sunday showed.
According to the commission, 77,045 people registered to vote in the small Indian Ocean nation of 121,354 people. None of the eight candidates won a majority in the first round on September 27, prompting a runoff between Herminie and Ramkalawan.
A former Anglican priest, Ramkalawan took office in 2020 when his Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) defeated the United Seychelles Party, which had ruled for over four decades and was the sole legal party from 1979 to 1991. The Seychelles became independent from Britain on June 29, 1976, and just 11 months later, in 1977, supporters of the Seychelles People’s United Party, now known as United Seychelles, overthrew President James Mancham while he was abroad and installed France-Albert Rene.
“I fully respect the will of the people. Let us continue to move forward in unity and with love for our country,” the outgoing leader wrote on Facebook on Sunday.
In separate statement, his office said Ramkalawan and his rival have met to discuss “key matters relating to the inauguration of the new president… and the importance of ensuring a smooth and peaceful transition of power.”
President-elect Herminie has pledged to move swiftly on his campaign promises, including reviving the economy, lowering the cost of living, and rebuilding public trust within his first 100 days in office.
He said his victory “marks a new direction” and that he hopes to leave a “profound” legacy built on ending division in the Seychelles by the end of his five-year term.
Herminie, a former parliamentary speaker, was charged with witchcraft in 2023, but the charges were dropped in 2024, clearing the way for him to run for office. His US party also reclaimed the parliamentary majority it lost in 2015 with a first-round win in elections last month.
