Seychelles



Civil code revisions being examined in new exercise to inform public ahead of debate on bill

The Seychelles’ Parliament is carrying out a second preliminary exercise to review the country’s Civil Code ahead of a debate on the Bill, which is expected to take place before the end of this term’s sitting. The second review is taking place from Ju

Waste management: UN launches Challenge Fund for circular economy businesses 

Entrepreneurs looking to join the value chain in waste management in Seychelles can now apply for a grant under the Challenge Fund, a financing programme developed by the Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund launched on Thursday. During her address a
Seychelles News Agency

Waste management: UN launches Challenge Fund for circular economy businesses 

Entrepreneurs looking to join the value chain in waste management in Seychelles can now apply for a grant under the Challenge Fund, a financing programme developed by the Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund launched on Thursday. During her address at the launching ceremony, the United Nations resident coordinator for Seychelles and Mauritius, Lisa Simrique Singh said, «The Challenge Fund aims to support businesses working towards diverting the volume of waste being landfilled by opting for reuse, recycle, or reduce wastage. By promoting these 3Rs, the Fund will help not only in creating new jobs for women, youth and disabled but also reduce the reliance of Seychelles on imports.» The Challenge Fund, which is worth $150,000, will be divided into five small grants of $5,000 and six large grants of $15,000 to $20,000. Applicants can find more information at http://www.mofbe.gov.sc/blue-economy The selection will include several components and criteria. Singh clarified that «the candidates whose projects are shortlisted for the Challenge Fund will receive training from UNECA and UNFPA during a boot camp to enable them to better their business pitch for the final round of the Challenge Fund, or to other potential financing partners.» This fund is part of a bigger project that aims to promote a circular economy for waste management in Seychelles. In April 2022, a two-year project entitled «Contributing to establishing an enabling environment to promote sustainable Green and Blue Economy in Mauritius and Seychelles» was awarded by the UN Joint SDG Fund to advance the country's Green and Blue Economy agenda. In Seychelles, the focus is on solid waste management in line with government priorities, which poses a significant challenge. The launching ceremony was held on Thursday. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  The country generates an average amount of 80,000 tonnes of waste annually, with the primary landfill expected to reach full capacity by 2025. Faced with the problem of scarcity of land, the country will need to adopt a sustainable solid waste management system. To address this problem the Fund will support the government to promote a circular economy to reduce the amount of waste flowing to the landfill along with a financing strategy and strengthen the partnership between the public and private sectors. The project is being implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). At the launch, a validation workshop also took place where many stakeholders from different sectors discussed the Seychelles Circular Economy Roadmap and Action Plan. Singh described the Challenge Fund as a catalyst for innovation in this field, that it will help raise awareness about this concept of circularity to the people and the communities through the award of grants to medium and small enterprises. «It is obvious that our current take-make-dispose approach to production and consumption is not sustainable. This inefficient approach is pushing our planet to the brink, driving the climate crisis, and depleting the resources we need to support more equitable and thriving communities in the future. Addressing these challenges will require a transformative shift to a circular economy - a system that puts sustainability at its core and where waste becomes input,» he added. «For instance, transitioning to the circular economy can help to reduce global CO2 emissions by more than 80 percent by 2060 and the annual volume of plastics flowing to the oceans by over 80 percent. In addition, the circular economy can be a driver of economic growth with the potential of creating 7 to 8 million new jobs worldwide. Ultimately, it would boost resilience, by lessening the dependence on strategic imports and enhance self-sufficiency,» said Singh Seychelles' Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Jean-Francois Ferrari, emphasised the importance of staying on track. «As we gather here today, let us lose sight of our ultimate goal – to create a circular economy that fosters sustainability and inclusivity. Through the development of micro, small and medium enterprises, we aim to empower our communities and drive economic growth that leaves no one behind,»  he said.

Seychelles introduces Educational Loan Scheme for university students, ends Part-Financing Scheme

Students in Seychelles who want to pursue higher education but have not qualified for fully-funded scholarships for university studies can now do so through a student loan under the new Educational Loan Scheme.   The statement was made in the National Assem
Seychelles News Agency

Seychelles introduces Educational Loan Scheme for university students, ends Part-Financing Scheme

Students in Seychelles who want to pursue higher education but have not qualified for fully-funded scholarships for university studies can now do so through a student loan under the new Educational Loan Scheme.   The statement was made in the National Assembly on Wednesday by the Minister for Education, Justin Valentin, who also announced that the government's Part-Financing Scheme has stopped with immediate effect. The minister said that requests for university studies, including overseas ones by both students and employees, are continuously increasing. «Given Seychelles' economic status as a high-income country, the number of scholarships we get from other countries or organisations has decreased. So the Ministry of Education has a significant challenge to better and more effectively use its scholarship budget. Because of the many demands, the government put in place an Educational Loan Scheme in operation since May 2023,» said Valentin. The student loan under the Educational Loan Scheme is not more than SCR 800,000 ($58,500) and is given to support a study in a field that is a priority for Seychelles and based on the interest rate of the respective banks, the government will subsidise 4 percent of the interest rate. Valentin said «A student will start repaying the loan after having completed the study and has started earning a salary. The government is the guarantor for each student.» The Educational Loan Scheme is supported by five commercial banks as well as the Seychelles Credit Union, the Central Bank of Seychelles, and the Seychelles Bankers Association. The final decision for approval of the loan remains with the banks. Aside from students who have not qualified for a fully-funded scholarship, the loan will also be available for a student who wishes to study in another university and not the one chosen by the Ministry of Education. The loan will help cover the difference in cost but will not exceed the SCR 800,000. Valentin said the Part-Financing Scheme has stopped due to several issues and concerns. «We saw during these past few years that the part-finance option has put a lot of financial pressure on parents. Certain parents did not honour their commitments and finally, the [government] system had to pay for the student to complete the study,» he added. Additionally, more students are expected to qualify for a fully- funded scholarship thanks to adjustments being made to the scholarship policy.

Russia, Mali to strengthen counterterrorism efforts

Russia and Mali agreed to strengthen their cooperation over counterterrorism in a telephone call on Wednesday according to both parties, following the attack in Moscow that killed at least 137. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to the head of the Malia
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Russia, Mali to strengthen counterterrorism efforts

Russia and Mali agreed to strengthen their cooperation over counterterrorism in a telephone call on Wednesday according to both parties, following the attack in Moscow that killed at least 137. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to the head of the Malian junta, Colonel Assimi Goita, and the President of Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou Nguesso, the Kremlin said in a statement. Putin and Goita «agreed to strengthen anti-terrorist cooperation», the Kremlin said. The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility on multiple occasions and published a graphic video of the gunmen carrying out the attack. Colonel Goita echoed the decision on social media: «We have agreed to cooperate more in the fight against terrorism». France was forced to withdraw troops who had been fighting jihadist violence, from Mali in 2022 after coups in 2020 and 2021 saw relations nosedive. The regime moved towards a political and military partnership with Russia. Moscow had steadily gained influence through the dispatch of fighters from the Wagner mercenary group, which has unofficially served the Kremlin's aims in resource-rich Africa since the 2010s. Putin and Goita also discussed strengthening «cooperation in energy, agricultural and mining projects», the Kremlin reported. The Kremlin mentioned Russia's «free» delivery of wheat, fertiliser and fuel to Mali. Russia has also established itself as the main ally of the military regimes of Burkina Faso and Niger, who exited a wider Western African bloc in favour of a joint defence pact with Mali. © Agence France-Presse  

Haiti's future governing council vows to restore order

The governing council that aims to oversee a political transition in Haiti vowed Wednesday to restore «public and democratic order» in its first statement to the Caribbean nation wracked by a worsening security crisis. Impoverished Haiti, which h
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Haiti's future governing council vows to restore order

The governing council that aims to oversee a political transition in Haiti vowed Wednesday to restore «public and democratic order» in its first statement to the Caribbean nation wracked by a worsening security crisis. Impoverished Haiti, which has long grappled with spiraling violence, has been rocked by an uptick in clashes since late February when gangs launched a coordinated offensive and demanded Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign. «We are determined to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people, trapped for too long between bad governance, multi-faceted violence and disregard for their perspectives and needs,» said the statement from the Presidential Council, which has yet to be officially installed. Signed by eight of the nine members of the council, it said that -- once in place -- the body will appoint a prime minister who will assist in forming a government to «put Haiti back on the road to democratic legitimacy, stability and dignity.» The statement ended with a plea for unity, warning that Haiti is at a «crucial turning point.» «Together, we will implement a clear plan of action aimed at restoring public and democratic order» by improving security and holding free elections, the statement said. «The Presidential Council is currently finalizing a document on its organization and mode of operation, including a transparent political agreement between the sectors involved in the process,» it continued. - Gang violence - Henry, who has led Haiti since the 2021 assassination of president Jovenel Moise, promised more than two weeks ago to step down after a transitional council is stood up -- though reaching that stage has proved exceedingly difficult due to squabbles among party leaders. The presidential transition council -- to be composed of seven voting members and two non-voting members -- was first announced on March 11, after emergency meetings between Haitian leaders and several countries and organizations, including the Caribbean regional bloc CARICOM. It is set to draw its members from Haitian political parties, the private sector and elsewhere, and is to name an interim prime minister and government to set the stage for fresh elections. In the meantime, Haiti has faced an ongoing humanitarian crisis, with UNICEF warning that «countless children» could die due to malnutrition and a lack of health care. Nearly five million people -- almost half the country's population -- have been driven into «high levels of acute food insecurity» since a surge in gang-linked violence, according to a report published in March by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). UNICEF chief Catherine Russell called Tuesday for a return of law and order to Haiti's streets in order to protect the nation's schools, hospitals and «humanitarian spaces.» Kenya, which agreed to lead a long-awaited, UN-approved mission to Haiti to back its security forces as they grapple with the well-armed gangs, has put its plans on hold until the transitional council is in place. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles unveils groundbreaking judicial manual for fight against money laundering and terrorist financing 

In a significant stride towards bolstering its efforts against money laundering, Seychelles has unveiled a groundbreaking judicial manual crafted in collaboration with the European Union (EU) Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terror
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Seychelles unveils groundbreaking judicial manual for fight against money laundering and terrorist financing 

In a significant stride towards bolstering its efforts against money laundering, Seychelles has unveiled a groundbreaking judicial manual crafted in collaboration with the European Union (EU) Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CTF). Speaking at the unveiling ceremony held at the Eden Bleu Hotel on Tuesday, Chief Justice Rony Govinden described the manual as «a pivotal moment» in the nation's ongoing fight against financial crimes. He said that this manual is a product of over a year of collaboration between Seychelles and the EU and that this was led by a team comprising of the director of legal affairs of the Judiciary, Lionel Garrick, and assisted by senior legal researcher Olya Hetsman. Govinden said that they also worked with the EU Experts and teams from the Attorney General's Office, Financial Investigation Unit (FIU), and the Financial Crime Investigation Unit (FCIU) of the Seychelles Police. This was «to ensure that this document not only met our local needs but also became a comprehensive, workable tool that could serve as an effective guide throughout the prosecution chain, from investigation to trial,» he added. The manual, tailored specifically for Seychelles, is the first of its kind in the country. It comes as a response to the enactment of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act in 2020, which highlighted the necessity for comprehensive guidelines to navigate complex investigations and prosecute such crimes effectively. The manual aims to provide practical support in financial investigations related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing cases. The director of the FIU, Richard Rampal, emphasised the impact that such a manual will have on the way that Seychelles combats money laundering and said, «This is a significant development for the island, and I am privileged to contribute to this crucial initiative.» Developed with the expertise of EU Global Facility experts from France, the Netherlands, Moldova, and Poland, the manual seeks to ensure seamless coordination among all stakeholders involved in combating financial crimes. David Hotte, EU Global Facility Team Leader spoke about the importance of equipping Seychelles with tangible tools to combat financial crimes effectively. 

Almost one child in six is cyberbullied: WHO Europe

Some 16 percent of children aged 11 to 15 were cyberbullied in 2022, up from 13 percent four years ago, a WHO Europe report covering 44 countries said on Wednesday. «This report is a wake-up call for all of us to address bullying and violence, wheneve
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Almost one child in six is cyberbullied: WHO Europe

Some 16 percent of children aged 11 to 15 were cyberbullied in 2022, up from 13 percent four years ago, a WHO Europe report covering 44 countries said on Wednesday. «This report is a wake-up call for all of us to address bullying and violence, whenever and wherever it happens,» WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said in a statement. Fifteen percent of boys and 16 percent of girls reported being cyberbullied at least once in recent months, according to the study, entitled «Health Behaviour in School-aged Children». The UN agency noted that the pandemic has changed the way adolescents behave towards each other. «Virtual forms of peer violence have become particularly relevant since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, when young people's worlds became increasingly virtual during times of lockdown,» the report said. Other bullying has remained largely stable with just a slight increase. Eleven percent of boys and girls reported being bullied at school at least two or three times a month in the past couple of months, compared to 10 percent four years ago. - Six hours of screen time - The highest levels of cyberbullying were experienced by boys in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moldova and Poland, while the lowest levels were reported in Spain, the WHO said without providing detailed data. «With young people spending up to six hours online every single day, even small changes in the rates of bullying and violence can have profound implications for the health and well-being of thousands,» Kluge said. One adolescent in eight admitted cyberbullying others, an increase of three percentage points from 2018, the report said. The number of adolescents who engaged in physical fighting meanwhile remained stable over the four-year period at 10 percent -- 14 percent for boys and six percent for girls. The study was based on data from 279,000 children and adolescents from 44 countries across Europe, Central Asia and Canada. In most places, cyberbullying peaked when children were 11 years old for boys and 13 for girls. Parents' socioeconomic status made little difference in children's behaviour, the report found. Canada was however an exception, where less advantaged youths were more likely to experience bullying. There, 27 percent of girls belonging to the 20 percent least affluent families said they had been subjected to bullying at school, compared to 21 percent of girls among the 20 percent most affluent families. Noting that the problem was widespread, the report called for greater efforts to improve awareness. «More investment in the monitoring of different forms of peer violence is needed,» it said. «There is also an urgent need to educate young people, families and schools of the forms of cyberbullying and its implications, while regulating social media platforms to limit exposures to cyberbullying,» it concluded. - Six hours of screen time - The highest levels of cyberbullying were experienced by boys in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moldova and Poland, while the lowest levels were reported in Spain, the WHO said without providing detailed data. «With young people spending up to six hours online every single day, even small changes in the rates of bullying and violence can have profound implications for the health and well-being of thousands,» Kluge said. One adolescent in eight admitted cyberbullying others, an increase of three percentage points from 2018, the report said. The number of adolescents who engaged in physical fighting meanwhile remained stable over the four-year period at 10 percent -- 14 percent for boys and six percent for girls. The study was based on data from 279,000 children and adolescents from 44 countries across Europe, Central Asia and Canada. In most places, cyberbullying peaked when children were 11 years old for boys and 13 for girls. Parents' socioeconomic status made little difference in children's behaviour, the report found. Canada was however an exception, where less advantaged youths were more likely to experience bullying. There, 27 percent of girls belonging to the 20 percent least affluent families said they had been subjected to bullying at school, compared to 21 percent of girls among the 20 percent most affluent families. Noting that the problem was widespread, the report called for greater efforts to improve awareness. «More investment in the monitoring of different forms of peer violence is needed,» it said. «There is also an urgent need to educate young people, families and schools of the forms of cyberbullying and its implications, while regulating social media platforms to limit exposures to cyberbullying,» it concluded. © Agence France-Presse

WHO regional director discusses fight against substance abuse with Seychelles' President 

Seychelles and the World Health Organisation (WHO) will explore areas the organisation can help in prevention and communication in the fight against substance abuse. The statement was made by the regional director of the WHO, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, after a m
Seychelles News Agency

WHO regional director discusses fight against substance abuse with Seychelles' President 

Seychelles and the World Health Organisation (WHO) will explore areas the organisation can help in prevention and communication in the fight against substance abuse. The statement was made by the regional director of the WHO, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, after a meeting with Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House on Tuesday. Dr Moeti is in Seychelles attending a meeting of ministers of health from small island developing states (SIDS) of the WHO in the African region. The meeting is focused on SIDS' progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), preparedness for the next pandemic, and climate and health. «We talked about universal health coverage, so generally how to ensure that everybody in the population whatever may be his or her economic status has access to the health services that they need and very importantly and have information on interventions that can help them and to preserve good health,» Moeti told reporters. She said that in her discussion with the head of state, it was revealed that the government is interested in addressing certain health issues such as obesity but also the issue of substance abuse. «Alcohol is a big issue for the government and it is working on that and that is an issue that is a growing problem in other countries of the region,» said Moeti. She also had the chance to take part in a walk held on the Beau Vallon beach in the north of Mahe, the main island, on Sunday as part of the ongoing anti-obesity campaign of the Ministry of Health. Discussions also touched on climate change, and Moeti said, «It is very important to a country like Seychelles the direct interest of the government to make sure that the country gets engaged in global discussions and hopefully benefits from some of the experience and some of the financing that could be available for climate change.» The subject of mental health emerging in the world was also discussed and the regional director said, «I think COVID-19 made that worse and made us even more aware about it.» Pandemic preparedness was also raised and Moetis explained that «We are just emerging from a major pandemic of COVID-19 and the whole world is talking about being better prepared together for the next pandemic.» She added that the WHO is coordinating the conversation among the member states about how «they will agree, how they will pool resources where possible and how they will have the same procedures when having an outbreak which could become a pandemic.» This will also include sharing information, and available commodities and acting as one global community to prevent the spread of diseases including those that can turn into a pandemic. Moeti commended Seychelles for having a ministry that deals with family, as it encompasses the work of many other ministries and it also deals with families, which is where children are raised. She reaffirmed WHO's support to a country that is doing quite a lot itself in improving the health of its population and said that the organisation was quite satisfied with the way Seychelles uses the  WHO funding it has received.

Russia blames Kyiv, West over Moscow gun attack

Russia on Tuesday sought to shift blame for the Moscow concert hall attack onto Ukraine and its Western backers, despite the Islamic State group claiming responsibility for the massacre of at least 139 people. The Kremlin's security services have been scramb
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Russia blames Kyiv, West over Moscow gun attack

Russia on Tuesday sought to shift blame for the Moscow concert hall attack onto Ukraine and its Western backers, despite the Islamic State group claiming responsibility for the massacre of at least 139 people. The Kremlin's security services have been scrambling to explain how gunmen on Friday managed to carry out the worst attack in Russia in over two decades. President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that «radical Islamists» conducted the bloody assault, but suggested they were linked to Ukraine, two years into the Kremlin's offensive on the country. The head of Russia's FSB security agency Alexander Bortnikov said Tuesday that while those who had «ordered» the attack had not been identified, the assailants were heading to Ukraine and would have been «greeted as heroes». «We believe the action was prepared both by the radical Islamists themselves and, of course, facilitated by Western special services, and Ukraine's special services themselves have a direct connection to this,» Bortnikov was cited as saying by Russian news agencies. Ukraine has fiercely rejected any accusations from Moscow that it was tied to the assault, with a top aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky saying the Kremlin was looking to cover up the «incompetence» of its intelligence agencies. - Belarus undermines Kremlin narrative - Russia's closest international ally, Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko, appeared to undermine the Kremlin's main narrative -- saying that the attackers tried to enter his country first before heading to Ukraine. «There was no way they could enter Belarus. They saw that. That's why they turned away and went to the section of the Ukrainian-Russian border,» he said. The Kremlin has expressed confidence in the country's powerful security agencies, despite questions swirling over how they failed to thwart the massacre after public and private warnings from the United States. Islamic State jihadists have said several times since Friday that they were responsible, and IS-affiliated media channels have published graphic videos of the gunmen inside the venue. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said Paris had information that the jihadists were responsible and warned Russia against exploiting the attack to blame Ukraine. The concert hall massacre was a major blow for Putin just over a week after he claimed a new term after one-sided elections the Kremlin billed as an endorsement of his military operation against Ukraine. Putin on Monday said for the first time that «radical Islamists» were behind last week's attack, but sought to tie it to Kyiv. Without providing any evidence, Putin connected the attack at Crocus City Hall to a series of incursions into Russian territory by pro-Ukrainian sabotage groups, and said they were all part of efforts to «sow panic in our society». - Eighth suspect remanded - A court in Moscow meanwhile on Tuesday remanded an eighth suspect in custody over the attack at the Moscow concert hall. Moscow earlier announced it had detained 11 people in connection with the attack, which saw camouflaged gunmen storm into Crocus City Hall, open fire on concert-goers and set the building ablaze. The court's press service said the latest suspect to be remanded was a man originally from the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan. Officials said he was ordered to be held in detention until at least May 22, without detailing the exact accusations against him. Four men charged on Sunday with carrying out the attack are citizens of Tajikistan, also in mainly Muslim Central Asia. Three more suspects -- reportedly from the same family and including at least one Russian citizen -- were charged on terror-related offences on Monday. A Turkish official said two of the Tajik suspects had travelled «freely between Russia and Turkey» ahead of the attack. The two had both spent time in Turkey shortly before the attack and entered Russia together on the same flight from Istanbul, the official said. All of those held in custody have been charged with terrorism and face up to life in prison. The Kremlin has so far pushed back at suggestions the death penalty will be re-introduced after the attack. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles' President sends condolence message to Russia after terrorist attack in Moscow

The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, has sent a message of condolence to Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, following the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall last week, the Foreign Affairs Department said on Tuesday. In his m
Seychelles News Agency

Seychelles' President sends condolence message to Russia after terrorist attack in Moscow

The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, has sent a message of condolence to Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, following the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall last week, the Foreign Affairs Department said on Tuesday. In his message, Ramkalawan said, «I am deeply saddened to learn of the devastating terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall, claiming numerous innocent lives. At this moment of profound tragedy, I extend our deepest condolences to you, your government, and the Russian people during these trying times. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.» The President added, «We condemn in the strongest terms such acts of violence. In the face of such adversity, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to peace, unity, and the preservation of human life and dignity. May the resilience and solidarity of the Russian people serve as a beacon of hope in these difficult times.» Around 137 people were killed last Friday when four gunmen stormed Crocus City Hall in the north of Moscow and fired on an estimated 6,000 people who were attending a rock concert. According to the BBC news service, the four gunmen have been arrested and charged with acts of terrorism.  

Seychelles' President invited to first Korea-Africa Summit in June

Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan has been invited to participate in the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit in June by the newly accredited ambassador on behalf of the South Korean government. Kang Jung presented his credentials to the President on Tuesda
Seychelles News Agency

Seychelles' President invited to first Korea-Africa Summit in June

Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan has been invited to participate in the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit in June by the newly accredited ambassador on behalf of the South Korean government. Kang Jung presented his credentials to the President on Tuesday at State House. The Korea-Africa Summt, which will take place from June 4 to 5 in Seoul, is a forum to address a number of issues of interest to both parties such as economic, political and social cooperation, as well as initiatives to strengthen multilateral relations between Korea and African countries. The new ambassador told reporters that this summit is a chance to «elevate the Korea-Seychelles bilateral relations.» He also spoke about other areas of cooperation between the two side to build closer relations through people to people exchange and institutional cooperation. Jung added that this «would be either tourists, businessmen or government officials - we agreed that we need to bring more people to Seychelles.» Other areas the two countries plan to further explore avenues of cooperation are the Blue Economy, fisheries, tourism and digitalisation, of which Jung said that this is an area where Korea is excelling. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, established diplomatic relations with South Korea on January 29, 1995. Kang also paid a courtesy visit to Vice President Ahmed Afif at State House this morning. The new ambassador will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  

Seychelles' Central Bank relaxes monetary policy from 2 percent to 1.75

The board of the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) has decided to relax the monetary policy rate for the next three months from 2 percent to 1.75 percent, said a top official on Tuesday. The first deputy governor of the CBS, Brian Commettant, told reporters
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Seychelles' Central Bank relaxes monetary policy from 2 percent to 1.75

The board of the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) has decided to relax the monetary policy rate for the next three months from 2 percent to 1.75 percent, said a top official on Tuesday. The first deputy governor of the CBS, Brian Commettant, told reporters that this decision was made by the board during discussions on Monday and the other interests that the Central Bank decides, when it changes the monetary policy, will also change. Commettant said that the decision taken on the monetary policy considered external development and Seychelles' economy. «Generally, domestic economic activities continue to recover but the level of uncertainty remains high especially related to international development that has a direct impact on Seychelles,» he added.    Commettant said that based on its evaluation, CBS thinks that the reduction in the interest rate of the monetary policy will help to support economic activities in the coming months.   In his presentation, he also shared the various external economic outlooks, sharing that globally, there is a moderation in monetary policies, with a reduction in the United States and European Union zone's inflation rates expected in the coming months. Additonally, CBS said in a press statement that the high-interest rate environment, coupled with the decline in international commodity prices and improvements in supply chains, has resulted in a moderation in inflationary pressures in most regions. «In January 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised its global growth projections for the year from 2.9 per cent to 3.1 percent. Despite this improved outlook, the tight monetary conditions that prevail globally are anticipated to dampen economic activity in the short term,» said CBS. On the domestic front, as at March 17, CBS said Seychelles welcomed a total of 81,421 tourists, an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period in 2023. «This growth primarily stemmed from a rise in visitor arrivals from the traditional Western European markets, particularly Germany, Italy and Russia. Estimated tourism earnings expanded by 22 percent in the first two months of the year compared to the same period last year. Despite the positive performance of the tourism sector, the subdued economic outlook in key tourism source markets as well as the aforementioned global challenges may adversely impact the domestic economy,» said CBS. The CBS said that the escalation of the attacks in the Red Sea, which could impact transit times and shipping costs, remains a global concern. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the annual inflation rate now stands at -0.25 percent, compared to 1.13 percent in February 2023. Meanwhile, as of March 22, Seychelles gross international reserves stand at $737 million.

Seychellois long-distance runner to compete in the World Athletics Cross Country Championship in Serbia

Seychellois long-distance runner, Yannick Magnan, will leave Seychelles on Wednesday for Belgrade, Serbia, to compete in the World Athletics Cross Country Championship. This will be Magnan's second international outing over a month after finishing 34th at th
Seychelles News Agency

Seychellois long-distance runner to compete in the World Athletics Cross Country Championship in Serbia

Seychellois long-distance runner, Yannick Magnan, will leave Seychelles on Wednesday for Belgrade, Serbia, to compete in the World Athletics Cross Country Championship. This will be Magnan's second international outing over a month after finishing 34th at the 6th African Cross Country Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia on February 25. In the senior 10km race, Magnan clocked 36 minutes and 08.64 seconds to finish 34th out of 36 contestants. Magnan has participated in several international competitions including the junior championship in March 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In Serbia, the 27-year-old will be competing against the world's best in cross-country running, and the competition will have the participation of 485 athletes from 51 teams around the globe. In the senior individual races, there are entries for 245 athletes, comprising 138 men and 107 women. The U20 races will see 187 athletes participate, with a gender distribution of 95 men and 92 women. Additionally, 12 countries are slated to compete in the mixed relay event. At the previous World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, in 2023, Kenya emerged as the leading nation on the medal tally, securing six gold medals. The championship was originally set to take place in Croatia, but was re-scheduled after the World Athletics Council decided that preparations at Medulin and Pula in Croatia to host the event on February 10 had «not advanced sufficiently». This will be the second World Athletics Series to be hosted by Belgrade in the space of two years following the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships. The 2024 World Cross Country Championships will be held in the Park of Friendship, next to the Danube River in the heart of Belgrade, which was the venue for the 2013 European Championships.

Senegal presidency winner says he is 'break' from establishment

Anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye said Monday that Senegal's people had chosen to «break» with the current political system as he was set to become the youngest president in the country's history. Faye's main rival from the gover
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Senegal presidency winner says he is 'break' from establishment

Anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye said Monday that Senegal's people had chosen to «break» with the current political system as he was set to become the youngest president in the country's history. Faye's main rival from the governing coalition, Amadou Ba, has already conceded the race, triggering a political earthquake in the West African nation. It marked a stunning victory for the 44-year-old Faye, who was only freed from prison 10 days before Sunday's election, whose results are not yet official. He described himself in his first public address since Ba conceded as «the choice of a break» from the establishment. One of his main priorities as president will be «national reconciliation» following three years of unrest and a political crisis, Faye said. Faye also vowed to «fight corruption at every level» rebuild institutions and tackle the cost of living crisis. xIt is the first time in 12 presidential votes held under universal suffrage since Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 that an opposition candidate has won in the first round of voting. Ba, 62, recognised Faye's win and rang him to offer his congratulations. Outgoing president Macky Sall, who did not stand after wins in 2012 and 2019, also congratulated him, hailing «a victory for Senegalese democracy». - 'Hungry for change' - Faye has promised left-wing pan-Africanism and to renegotiate gas and oil contracts, with Senegal due to start production on recently discovered oil and gas reserves later this year. The opposition candidate has never held a nationally elected position before. The United States echoed Sall in hailing a triumph of democracy in Senegal. «The commitment of the Senegalese people to the democratic process is part of the foundation of our deep friendship and strong bilateral ties,» State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Faye on his victory, and said he looked forward to working with him. El Hadji Mamadou Mbaye, a political science lecturer and researcher at the University of Saint-Louis, told AFP that «people are hungry for change when you see what is happening in this country in terms of corruption, non-respect of the law». The person who most embodied the longed-for change was Ousmane Sonko, Mbaye added, referring to the firebrand opposition figurehead who was barred from running in the election but endorsed Faye as his replacement. Faye had appeared clearly ahead of former prime minister Ba, according to provisional results from individual polling stations published by local media and on social networks. Official results are expected before the end of the week. An absolute majority was required for a first-round win. Newspaper front pages had already congratulated Faye. «Happy Birthday Mister President,» said the Walf Quotidien, referring to Monday being Faye's birthday. Hundreds of jubilant Faye supporters had gathered at his campaign headquarters in the capital Dakar late on Sunday. «It's a total revolution. Everything is going to change. Behaviourally, socially and financially, everything is going to change,» Coumba Diallo, a singer known as Queen Biz, enthused. At least 10 of the 17 presidential candidates earlier on Monday had congratulated Faye in light of provisional results published by the media. No major incidents were reported during the vote despite three years of bouts of unrest and a last-minute postponement of the election. - Deep change - Faye was released from prison on March 14 under a rapidly passed amnesty law, together with Sonko. He was jailed last year on charges linked to a standoff between Sonko and the state. Sonko was barred from running in the presidential race due to a defamation conviction. The anti-establishment candidate has pledged to restore national «sovereignty» and distribute wealth more equitably. He has also promised to renegotiate mining, gas and oil contracts signed with foreign companies. «I want to say to the international community, to our bilateral and multilateral partners, that Senegal... will remain... a sure and reliable ally to all partners who commit to a virtuous, respectful and mutually productive cooperation with us,» Faye said on Monday. - Postponement - Senegal was originally due to vote on February 25, but an 11th-hour postponement by Sall triggered the worst political crisis in decades and violence that left four dead. Around 7.3 million of Senegal's 18 million population were eligible to vote. With the country viewed as a beacon of democracy in coup-hit West Africa, where Russia is strengthening its influence, the election was closely followed. It is Senegal's third democratic handover from one elected leader to another since independence. Hundreds of observers from civil society, the African Union, the ECOWAS regional group and the European Union were on hand. After weeks of confusion, Senegal's top constitutional body overruled Sall's attempt to delay the vote until December and forced him to reset the date to March 24, resulting in a rushed campaign that clashed with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Sall's legacy includes mass arrests, persistent poverty, 20 percent unemployment and thousands of migrants setting off on the perilous voyage to Europe each year. Several episodes of unrest triggered partly by the stand-off between Sonko and the state have seen dozens killed and hundreds arrested since 2021. © Agence France-Presse

No let-up in Gaza war despite UN ceasefire resolution

Israeli troops battled Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, with no sign of a let-up in the war despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an «immediate ceasefire». The resolution was adopted Monday after Israel's closest ally th
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No let-up in Gaza war despite UN ceasefire resolution

Israeli troops battled Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, with no sign of a let-up in the war despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an «immediate ceasefire». The resolution was adopted Monday after Israel's closest ally the United States abstained. It demands an «immediate ceasefire» for the ongoing Muslim holy month of Ramadan, leading to a «lasting» truce. It also demands that Hamas and other militants free hostages they took during the unprecedented October 7 attacks on Israel, though it does not directly link the release to a truce. After the vote, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres led calls for the resolution to be implemented. «Failure would be unforgivable,» he wrote on social media platform X. Israel reacted furiously to the US abstention, as it allowed the resolution to go through with all the other 14 Security Council members voting yes. The resolution is the first since the Gaza war erupted to demand an immediate halt in the fighting. Washington insisted that its abstention, which followed numerous vetoes, did not mark a shift in policy, although it has taken an increasingly tougher line with Israel in recent weeks. The war began with Hamas's October 7 attacks, which resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes around 130 are still held in Gaza, including 33 presumed dead. Vowing to destroy Hamas and free the captives, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground invasion of the coastal territory. The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Monday put the Palestinian death toll at 32,333, most of them women and children. Hamas welcomed the Security Council resolution and reaffirmed its readiness to negotiate the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. - 'Clear retreat' - Israel has consistently defended its campaign despite mounting international criticism of its conduct. Enraged by the United States' abstention, it cancelled the visit of a delegation to Washington. It said that the abstention «hurts» both its war effort and attempts to release hostages, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office described it as «a clear retreat from the consistent position of the US». On the ground, the fighting raged on unabated. In southern Gaza's Rafah, a key flashpoint in the war, witnesses said Israeli jets pummelled the city on Tuesday. According to the Israeli army, anti-rocket sirens sounded in Israeli areas around the Gaza Strip. While Rafah, like other areas around the Gaza Strip, has come under frequent Israeli strikes, it is the only part of the territory where Israel has not sent in ground troops. It borders Egypt, and 1.5 million Palestinians fleeing the rest of the devastated territory have sought refuge there. Netanyahu's determination to launch a ground operation in Rafah, the city on Gaza's southern border where most of the territory's population is sheltering, has become a key point of contention between Israel and the United States. - 'Obscene distortion' - In Rafah, Palestinians welcomed the UN vote and called for the United States to use its influence on Israel to secure a ceasefire. Bilal Awad, 63, said Washington must «stand against an attack on Rafah, and support the return of the displaced to their cities». Ihab al-Assar, 60, expressed hope that «Israel will comply» with the Security Council. Israel has labelled its operations «precise operational activities» and said it has taken care to avoid harm to civilians, but aid agencies have voiced alarm about non-combatants caught up in the fighting. Elsewhere in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said Monday it was battling militants around two hospitals and reported killing about 20 fighters around Al-Amal over the previous day in close-quarters combat and air strikes. Palestinians living near Al-Shifa, the territory's main hospital, have reported corpses in the streets, constant bombardment and the rounding up of men who are stripped to their underwear and questioned. Israel's military said it had detained a total of about 500 militants «affiliated with» Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant group, during its operation at Al-Shifa. The fighting came as an independent UN-appointed expert, Francesca Albanese, said there were «reasonable grounds to believe» Israel's actions in Gaza had met the threshold for «acts of genocide». Israel rejected Albanese's report, due to be presented to the UN's Human Rights Council on Tuesday, as an «obscene inversion of reality». © Agence France-Presse

WHO: SIDS' health ministers meet in Seychelles to discuss common challenges 

Ministers of health from small island developing states (SIDS) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the African region are meeting in Seychelles to discuss their progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), preparedness for the next p
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WHO: SIDS' health ministers meet in Seychelles to discuss common challenges 

Ministers of health from small island developing states (SIDS) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the African region are meeting in Seychelles to discuss their progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), preparedness for the next pandemic, and climate and health. The conference is also a chance for the SIDS to examine ways to better serve their people in their respective domains. Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan opened the event, sayiny, «The vagaries of climate change and health, the frantic efforts to achieve universal health coverage, the imperatives of pandemic preparedness and response, the substance abuse vortex, the obstinate surge of the obesity pandemic and its and its consequences on our populations and health systems and a whole range of other critical health challenges require us to speak as one, more than ever before.» Ramkalawan said that the delegates cannot leave this meeting without addressing the future orientations of this vibrant movement to improve the health and well-being among the SIDS population of Africa. He added that an evaluation of the possibilities of setting up a permanent health sector secretariat for the SIDS should be considered. Organised by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organidation Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO), the meeting is taking  place from March 25-27. In her address to those attending the conference, the outgoing SIDS chairperson, Filomena Gonçalves from Cape Verde, said that the meeting «is a testimony to our unity and determination to overcome the common challenges we face, including sustainable development and the climate emergency that threatens our survival.» Among the challenges she listed that SIDS are facing are limited resources, susceptibility to natural disasters and vulnerability to external shocks. As part of the efforts to work together for the betterment of the respective people, Gonçalves explained that they adopted joint strategies «to overcome these challenges, including the 2019 initiative for joint procurement of medicines and vaccines, improving access, quality and reducing costs.» Seychelles' health minister, Peggy Vidot, told reporters, «As a small island state, the amount of medications that we need tend to be smaller than the bigger countries, which means that suppliers are sometimes reluctant to send us the small quantities we require.» Vidot added that the idea of SIDS pooling resources to purchase the medications «makes it easier, as we then share it among ourselves, it is also better as the more we buy together, the more the prices go down.»

Malawi seeks $200mn aid over El Nino-linked starvation risk

Malawi's president appealed for $200 million in food aid this weekend, saying millions of citizens faced starvation due to a drought linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon. President Lazarus Chakwera declared on Saturday evening a state of natural disaste
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Malawi seeks $200mn aid over El Nino-linked starvation risk

Malawi's president appealed for $200 million in food aid this weekend, saying millions of citizens faced starvation due to a drought linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon. President Lazarus Chakwera declared on Saturday evening a state of natural disaster in 23 of the 28 districts of the southern African country, following a government assessment of the damage to farmland caused by El Nino. «In addition to delayed and erratic rainfall, these districts have faced insufficient rainfall, floods and prolonged dry spells, severely harming crops and food production prospects,» Chakwera said in a national address. «This situation is devastating.» Neighbouring Zambia declared a national disaster in late February after drought devastated its agricultural sector. Major growing areas in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe received only 80 percent of average rainfall during the southern hemisphere summer from mid-November to February, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). President Chakwera said the Malawian government's initial assessment found that nearly two million farming households had been affected and 44.3 percent of national crop land has suffered damage. He estimated that around 200 million dollars of maize would be needed for a humanitarian response programme and urged anyone, at home or abroad, in a position to provide resources to support the cause. «It would have been catastrophic even if this were the first disaster in recent years,» Chakwera added. «Unfortunately, this marks the fourth time in four years that I have declared a state of disaster.» Malawi’s Civil Society Agriculture Network (Cisanet) said on Sunday it supported the president's appeal but emphasised the importance of «aligning investments with climate-smart practices» and ensuring there was «transparency in resource allocation». El Nino is a natural weather phenomenon which is typically associated with increased heat worldwide, as well as drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere. It occurs every two to seven years and lasts between nine and 12 months. © Agence France-Presse

Gaza bombed as UN chief decries 'horror and starvation'

Air and artillery strikes pounded targets in Gaza Sunday as UN chief Antonio Guterres called for a surge of aid into the besieged territory he said was stalked by «horror and starvation». Other world leaders added their voices to that of Guterre
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Gaza bombed as UN chief decries 'horror and starvation'

Air and artillery strikes pounded targets in Gaza Sunday as UN chief Antonio Guterres called for a surge of aid into the besieged territory he said was stalked by «horror and starvation». Other world leaders added their voices to that of Guterres in appealing for an immediate ceasefire and a halt to Israeli plans to send in troops against militants in Gaza's crowded southern city of Rafah. Talks aimed at a deal for a truce and release of hostages were taking place in Qatar but the heads of the Israeli and US spy agencies involved in the negotiations have now left the Gulf emirate for consultations, an informed source told AFP. The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Sunday that another 84 people had been killed over the previous 24 hours, raising the total death toll in the territory during nearly six months of war to 32,226, most of them women and children. The Gaza war began with an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel has vowed to destroy the militants, who also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes around 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 presumed dead. Palestinian children, some with heads bandaged, others more severely wounded in the latest bombardments, were rescued from the rubble of collapsed buildings and rushed to Al-Najjar hospital in Rafah. Guterres, on a visit to Egypt, urged an end to the «non-stop nightmare» endured by Gaza's 2.4 million people in the territory's worst-ever war. «Looking at Gaza, it almost appears that the four horsemen of war, famine, conquest and death are galloping across it,» the UN secretary-general said, visiting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. «The whole world recognises that it's past time to silence the guns and ensure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.» With the United Nations warning of imminent famine in Gaza, Guterres urged Israel to allow in more humanitarian aid via the Rafah border crossing whose Egyptian side he visited, saying trucks were «blocked». On social media, Israel's military responded that the UN should scale up its logistics and «stop blaming Israel for its own failures». - 'Extreme danger' - Combat has flared for almost a week in and around Gaza's biggest hospital complex, Gaza City's Al-Shifa. The UN on Friday had reported «intensive exchanges of fire» involving Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in the area. The Hamas government media office said 190 people had been killed in the Al-Shifa operation, and 30 nearby buildings destroyed. The army said its forces had killed more than 170 militants and detained about 480 militants affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which is fighting alongside Hamas. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Sunday that Israeli forces were also besieging Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals in southern Gaza's Khan Yunis city. The Red Crescent said messages broadcast from drones demanded that everyone in Al-Amal leave naked, while forces blocked the gates of the hospital with dirt barriers. «All of our crews are currently under extreme danger and cannot move at all,» the Red Crescent added. In response to AFP's request for comment, the military said it was operating in the Al-Amal area but «not currently... in the hospitals». The military said the operation began with air force strikes on about 40 targets, including military compounds and tunnels. Jordan's King Abdullah II stressed in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron the need for «an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and protecting innocent civilians», the palace said. He also called for more aid to reach Gaza as his country's planes again airdropped relief supplies with aircraft from the United States, Egypt, Germany and Singapore. - Munitions - Tensions have grown between Israel and Washington, which provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel but has become increasingly vocal about the war's impact on civilians. Prior to taking off for an official visit to the United States, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said his focus will include «preserving the qualitative military edge» and «our ability to obtain platforms and munitions». He is set to meet Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and other senior US officials. A source of tension between the two countries is Israel's plan to extend its ground invasion into Rafah city on the Egyptian border, where around 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge, mostly in overcrowded shelters. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a major ground operation in Rafah was not necessary to deal with Hamas, and «there is no place» for civilians there to get out of harm's way. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads a coalition including religious and ultra-nationalist parties, has vowed to go ahead with a Rafah invasion even without Washington's support. Macron, in a phone call with Netanyahu on Sunday, repeated his opposition to any Israeli military operation against Hamas in Rafah and said forced transfer of Rafah's population would be «a war crime». Macron urged Israel to open all crossing points into Gaza, which could help the aid flow, and said he intended to bring a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for «an immediate and lasting ceasefire». Russia and China on Friday vetoed a US-led draft resolution for the Council to support «the imperative» of a ceasefire. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was on Sunday to begin a visit to Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories. Before leaving Germany she appealed for «an immediate humanitarian ceasefire». At talks in Doha, a major sticking point has been Hamas's position that a temporary truce must lead to a permanent Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a demand Israel has rejected. The latest negotiations had «focused on details and a ratio for the exchange of hostages and prisoners», a source briefed on the talks said, adding that technical teams remained in Qatar. © Agence France-Presse  

Seychelles Hydrospatial Observatory for Research and Exploration created

The Seychelles Hydrospatial Observatory for Research and Exploration Institute (SHORE) is a newly registered non-governmental organisation founded by young Seychellois experts. The Institute, known by its acronym SHORE, aims to contribute and advance the un
Seychelles News Agency

Seychelles Hydrospatial Observatory for Research and Exploration created

The Seychelles Hydrospatial Observatory for Research and Exploration Institute (SHORE) is a newly registered non-governmental organisation founded by young Seychellois experts. The Institute, known by its acronym SHORE, aims to contribute and advance the understanding and management of Seychelles' marine environment towards the sustainable development of the Blue Economy. According to its founder SHORE, Francesca Adrienne, «this involves harnessing scientific knowledge and services derived from hydrospatial sciences for better decision-making, which is crucial for the country's economic development.» Adrienne described these hydrospatial sciences as oceanography, and hydrography as well as focusing on ocean floor mapping, research, exploration, and observation. Elements that she said SHORE intends to promote more in Seychelles. «This is essential for understanding marine processes, adapting to climate changes in the seas and contiguous zones, and providing critical information for managing and conserving marine resources,» she told SNA. «This involves organising workshops, educational programmes, and collaborative initiatives to enhance local expertise and knowledge. The goal is to strengthen marine spatial sciences and promote their role in the development of the Blue Economy,» said Adrienne. Apart from the educational side, Adrienne also emphasised the importance of the practical aspects of this project, especially in terms of decision and policy making. «SHORE's work, particularly in ocean floor mapping and hydrospatial science, will benefit Seychelles by providing crucial information about marine habitats, monitoring changes over time, enhanced data collection and management for managing marine resources and the provision of essential services supporting safe navigation and sustainable use of marine resources,» she said. Adrienne further added «This is especially important for an oceanographically and climatically significant region like Seychelles, contributing to global efforts to address climate change and protect ocean health. Ultimately, these efforts will contribute to the responsible development of Seychelles' Blue Economy.» SHORE was officially registered as an NGO early in December 2023 by the Seychelles Registrar of Associations. Adrienne said the next steps involve strategic planning, stakeholder engagement towards membership and participation, resource mobilisation, and partnership development and establishment. «We will also be involved in the development and implementing ocean floor mapping projects, research and exploration initiatives, organising targeted workshops and other engagement activities as well as educational and advocacy programs to fulfill the organisation's objectives,» she shared. Over the next five years, SHORE plans to have a transformative role in the hydrospatial domain in Seychelles.

Senegal votes for new president after years of crisis

Senegal voted on Sunday for a new president in a delayed election that follows a political crisis and years of unrest, with the two favourites both claiming confidence in an outright win. The winner will be tasked with steering Senegal, viewed as a beacon o
Seychelles News Agency

Senegal votes for new president after years of crisis

Senegal voted on Sunday for a new president in a delayed election that follows a political crisis and years of unrest, with the two favourites both claiming confidence in an outright win. The winner will be tasked with steering Senegal, viewed as a beacon of democracy in coup-hit West Africa, out of its recent troubles and managing revenues from oil and gas reserves that are shortly to start production. Two favourites have emerged among the 17 candidates who include a sole woman: the governing coalition's former prime minister Amadou Ba and anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Both were once tax inspectors but Ba, 62, now stands for continuity while the 43-year-old Faye promises profound change and left-wing pan-Africanism. Both have also pitched themselves as the best candidate for young people in a county where half the population is under 20. «I voted for Diomaye without thinking,» said Diaraaf Gaye, a 26-year-old shopkeeper. «It's time for the country to start on a new footing with young people» in power. But 23-year-old Ndeye Penda Faye, a housekeeper, said she was pinning her hopes on the government's candidate. «(President) Macky Sall has done a lot of work and that's why I'm going to vote for Amadou Ba, to continue the work,» she said. Senegal was originally due to vote on February 25, but an 11th-hour postponement by Sall triggered the worst political crisis in decades that left four dead. On Sunday, calm queues formed outside polling stations, with many voters having woken up early to pray before daybreak before heading straight to polling stations. Voting materials including ballot boxes were still labelled with the original February poll date. «We finally got there. May God be praised. Recent times haven't been easy for Senegal which has experienced several upheavals,» said Mita Diop, a 51-year-old trader. «But all that is behind us now,» she added, emerging from a polling station in the capital Dakar with her finger stained in red ink to show she had cast her ballot. - 'Choice for change' - Opposition figurehead Ousmane Sonko -- who was barred from standing due to a defamation conviction -- said young people had «massively» turned out to vote. «We are convinced that at the end of this day the victory will be dazzling,» Sonko said, referring to his deputy and endorsed candidate, Faye, as he voted in his southern stronghold of Ziguinchor. «I remain confident about the choice for the change that I am able to embody better than any other candidate,» Faye said alongside his two wives, adding he was «convinced» of a first-round victory. But Faye's adversary Ba is also positive about his chances. «There is no doubt that at the end of today we should know the next president of the republic,» he said after voting in Dakar, adding he was «very, very, very confident». Voting ends at 1800 GMT and provisional results could follow overnight, although first official results are expected during the coming week. A second-round vote is likely given the number of candidates and the need for an absolute majority, but no date has yet been set. - Calm, efficient - Sall, who is not standing after serving two terms, warned candidates against making premature election victory claims. «It is neither up to a candidate, nor to a (political) camp to proclaim victory or results,» Sall said after voting with his wife in the central western town of Fatick. Hundreds of observers from civil society, the African Union, the ECOWAS regional group and the European Union are on hand. The head of the EU mission, Malin Bjork, said that voting had taken place «calmly, efficiently and (in a) very orderly manner». After weeks of confusion, Senegal's top constitutional body overruled Sall's attempt to delay the vote until December and forced him to reset the date to March 24, resulting in a rushed campaign that clashed with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Ba, Sall's hand-picked would-be successor, has positioned himself as a last bastion against «bandits» and urged people to vote «for experience and competence instead of entrusting the reins of the country to adventurers». On Sunday, he spoke of a programme of consolidation and acceleration of «everything that has been done so far». But Sall's legacy also includes mass arrests, persistent poverty, 20-percent unemployment and thousands of migrants setting off on the perilous voyage to Europe each year. Several episodes of unrest triggered partly by a stand-off between firebrand Sonko and the state have seen dozens killed and hundreds arrested since 2021. A rapidly passed amnesty law led to the March 14 release from prison of Faye and the charismatic Sonko, who came third in the 2019 presidential poll. © Agence France-Presse

MCSS launches new children's book: «A Journey through Seychelles Waters»

The Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles (MCSS), a non-governmental organisation, has produced a children's book aimed at giving an insight into marine biodiversity. Entitled «A Journey through Seychelles Waters,» the book has brought to l
Seychelles News Agency

MCSS launches new children's book: «A Journey through Seychelles Waters»

The Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles (MCSS), a non-governmental organisation, has produced a children's book aimed at giving an insight into marine biodiversity. Entitled «A Journey through Seychelles Waters,» the book has brought to life marine species and ecosystems through captivating illustrations. The main characters in the book are Sandy - the hawksbill turtle - and Finley- the whale shark. Both species are protected in the Seychelles' waters and they travel vast distances. The MCSS worked on the book with funding from the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCATT) Blue Grant and the project cost over SCR100,000 ($7,300) with a total of 400 copies printed. The book is written in Creole and English. Although Seychelles has managed to protect 30 percent of the marine territory, MCSS believes there is a lot of information that the youths and the general public do not have access to.  The book was launched in a ceremony at the National Museum conference room, in which 100 copies were donated to the Ministry of Education through Merna Eulentin, the principal secretary for educational services. Private schools, the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment and the National Library also received a copy. The public can access it through bookshops in Victoria, the capital. Copies were donated to the Ministry of Education through Merna Eulentin, the principal secretary for educational services. (Juliette Dine) Photo License: CC-BY  Rabia Somers, programme coordinator at MCSS, said she came up with this idea after the birth of her son a few years ago. «Being an environmentalist, his books were primarily about the natural world and the incredible species to which it was home. It struck me then how easily and effectively children could be introduced to this most important part of their world through the use of storytelling and captivating imagery, at the critical stage in their lives when they are so naturally fascinated by it and care so much to do right by it,» she said. When SeyCATT launched the 6th cycle for the Blue Grant fund, the MCCS project proposal had merit and was approved because it aligned well with education, which is a cross-cutting theme under the Blue Grant Fund cycle, said SeyCATT Blue Grant coordinator, Michel Pierre. «We feel it is important to educate our youth about marine life, the different species and ecosystem and the need to protect them as well the actions that we do that do not help the protection of species and the ecosystem,» he added. Pierre said that SeyCATT would like the children to become the ambassadors of the environment and that they can use this book as a tool to promote the conservation of the environment. 

UK in shock after Catherine's cancer announcement

After weeks of wild speculation, the UK was on Saturday digesting the shock news that Catherine, Princess of Wales, has cancer, with many praising her courage and others criticising those who spread conspiracies. Catherine revealed the news on Friday in a hi
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UK in shock after Catherine's cancer announcement

After weeks of wild speculation, the UK was on Saturday digesting the shock news that Catherine, Princess of Wales, has cancer, with many praising her courage and others criticising those who spread conspiracies. Catherine revealed the news on Friday in a highly personal video, which came just weeks after King Charles III revealed he too is battling the disease. The candid disclosure leaves the British monarchy in an unprecedented crisis in modern times with two of its most senior members simultaneously fighting serious illness. Head of state Charles -- 17 months into his reign when Buckingham Palace announced in February that he had cancer and would be cancelling all public engagements -- led tributes to his «beloved daughter-in-law». The ailing 75-year-old monarch spoke of his pride in «her courage in speaking as she did,» shortly after Kensington Palace posted the video on social media. Following other warm words from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the White House, British newspapers directly quoted Kate on their Saturday front covers while also praising her «courage» on the inside pages. «Kate, you are not alone» read the front of The Sun. Inside, the tabloid said it was «hugely comforting» to hear Kate say she was getting stronger, and that «perhaps the world will now appreciate why so much secrecy surrounded her surgery in January». - 'Privacy' demand - Others hoped it would end the frenzied rumours, with the Daily Mail tabloid taking aim at the «social media trolls who have been peddling disgusting conspiracy theories to explain her absence from public life.» In her statement Kate, as the 42-year-old is widely known, admitted the diagnosis was a «huge shock» and asked for «time, space and privacy» as she completes chemotherapy for her unspecified cancer. In the video -- recorded Wednesday in Windsor, west of London, where the future queen and king live with their three young children -- she insisted she was «well». She said it had taken them time to explain the situation to Prince George, aged 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis, «and to reassure them that I am going to be OK». «William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,» Kate added. Commentators commended its frank nature, with the princess speaking directly to the camera while sitting on a garden bench. «So many people will have been so moved by the way that she conducted herself during that two minute plus broadcast,» royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told AFP. «But there's no doubt at all that it's a very, very difficult time for the institution of monarchy,» he added. - Royal health woes - Buckingham Palace announced on February 5 that tests had identified Charles had «a form of cancer» without giving further details. He has cancelled all public engagements except audiences with the prime minister and ambassadors, and worked on official papers while receiving treatment. He has been photographed several times since then, and seen attending church. Kate was last seen at a public engagement on December 25. Kensington Palace announced on January 17 that she was facing up to two weeks in hospital and several months' recuperation following abdominal surgery. She was not expected to be ready to return to public duties until after Easter on March 31, a statement at the time said. - 'Doing their best' - But Kate disclosed tests after the operation «found cancer had been present» and that she was now undergoing «preventative chemotherapy». Kensington Palace said she would return to official duties «when she is cleared to do so by her medical team». «Preventive chemotherapy after surgery is given to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in the future,» Andrew Beggs, a senior clinical fellow and consultant colorectal surgeon at the University of Birmingham said. He added it was «a bit like mopping a floor with bleach when you've spilt something on it,» noting chemotherapy «kills any spilt cells». People outside Buckingham Palace on Friday spoke of their shock at the news. «I think they're really doing their best to balance it,» said American tourist Hannah Dickerson, 20. «That's them juggling how to balance telling the public but also privately making sure they do it in their own terms.» © Agence France-Presse

Hilton's 6th hotel in Seychelles: Canopy by Hilton Resort opens with 120 rooms

The Canopy by Hilton Seychelles resort has officially opened its doors, with the hotel looking to become «the most visited tourist establishment in Seychelles.» Guy Hutchinson, the president of Hilton Middle East & Africa, made the statement
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Hilton's 6th hotel in Seychelles: Canopy by Hilton Resort opens with 120 rooms

The Canopy by Hilton Seychelles resort has officially opened its doors, with the hotel looking to become «the most visited tourist establishment in Seychelles.» Guy Hutchinson, the president of Hilton Middle East & Africa, made the statement during his address at the official opening ceremony of the sixth Hilton hotel in the island nation on Friday.  “This is the first Canopy by Hilton in Africa and the Indian Ocean, and it is also the first resort globally for the brand, making this a really momentous occasion,” said Hutchinson.  He added that this hotel, which comprises 120 rooms, is one more compelling reason for people to visit Seychelles.  Seychelles’ President Wavel Ramkalawan had the honour of cutting the ribbon to officially open the hotel, which is located on the south west coast at Anse La Mouche on the main island of Mahe.  The resort itself features spas, tennis courts, outdoor pools, a fitness centre, a business centre and other features that make it a must-see location on the island.  Avocet, Palem, a Balinese-inspired kitchen, bar, and lounge, and the Sega Bar are the three restaurants of the hotel.  The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, was also present at the opening ceremony, and during his address he expressed his delight that Canopy by Hilton has incorporated much of Seychelles’ cultural heritage in its resort, while also commending the hotel’s for having over 70 percent Seychellois employees.  “Following the recent inauguration of the Platte Island Waldorf Astoria early this year, the arrival of Canopy not only enriches our tourism sector, but also opens up new employment opportunities for the local communities, especially those of the nearby districts and even beyond,” said Radegonde.  He also praised Hilton for the work in the development of young professionals, highlighting the ‘Fitir Academy’ and the recent adoption of Belonie School by Hilton, under the “Lospitalite” Tourism School Clubs programme.  The first hotel to come under the Hilton brand management in Seychelles was Hilton Northolme Resort and Spa in 2007, located at Glacis on the northern side of Mahe. A year later, Hilton Labriz opened on the third biggest island of Seychelles, Silhouette, followed in 2013 by the DoubleTree by Hilton Allamanda Resort and Spa in the south of the main island.  Most recently, Mango House Seychelles LXR Hotels & Resorts, a Hilton brand, opened in 2021, and this has now been followed by two more resorts in the space of two months, with the Waldorf Astoria on Ile Platte, and now Canopy by Hilton.

Seychelles to host ANOCA Zone 7 Games in May 2024

Seychelles will host the upcoming Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Zone 7 games from May 6 to 11.   For the first time, the game will include four sporting disciplines unlike in the past when both Mauritius and Seychelles held co
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Seychelles to host ANOCA Zone 7 Games in May 2024

Seychelles will host the upcoming Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Zone 7 games from May 6 to 11.   For the first time, the game will include four sporting disciplines unlike in the past when both Mauritius and Seychelles held competition in a single sport for the ANOCA Zone 7 countries. «As Seychellois Antonio Gopal is the current president of the ANOCA Zone 7,  we decided to have the games here in a meeting in Cairo last year,» said the secretary general of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA), Alain Alcindor. ANOCA is an international organisation that unites the 54 National Olympic Committees of Africa and is currently headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria. The Zone 7 represents the collective National Olympic Committees of Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, Djibouti, and Seychelles.   Dedicated to advancing the Olympic movement and enhancing sports development in the region, ANOCA Zone 7 plays a vital role in promoting unity and excellence through sport. Alcindor said that the International Olympic Committee (IOC), encourages each zone to host activities during their presidency and that is why Seychelles has decided to host the games. The four sports that will feature in the event are swimming, basketball (3×3), beach volleyball, and table tennis. «Originally, we wanted to have swimming, table tennis, and athletics since last year, but that was delayed as we awaited for the track and field facilities to be fixed. Since that has not happened, we decided to replace athletics with 3x3 basketball and beach volleyball,» explained Alcindor. The games are reserved for athletes under the age of 18 and are on a smaller scale than the popular CJSOI Games, also known as the Indian Ocean Games. In all, each delegation is expected to have 32 delegates, including each country's president of their NOC, who, while in Seychelles, will also attend the ANOCA Zone 7 meeting. The event is not set to be done regularly, as each country that takes over the presidency can decide what activities they want to do. 

Seychelles Meteorological Authority unveils strategic plan 

The Seychelles Meteorological Authority (SMA) has revealed its new strategic plan in which key performance indicators can now be monitored in a half day workshop on Friday. The event was organised to coincide with World Meteorological Day, which is celebra
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Seychelles Meteorological Authority unveils strategic plan 

The Seychelles Meteorological Authority (SMA) has revealed its new strategic plan in which key performance indicators can now be monitored in a half day workshop on Friday. The event was organised to coincide with World Meteorological Day, which is celebrated on March 23. Keeping with the chosen theme for this year's World Meteorological Day, «On the front lines of Climate Action,» officials from SMA and other ministries attended the half-day event held at the Eden Bleu Hotel. The chief executive of the SMA, Vincent Ameile, presented the updated strategic plan that details the way forward for the authority to recover public and private forecast costs. It also provides a localisation plan to replace expatriate workers and set ways to carry out their duties and mandates among others. When presenting the plan, Amelie also revealed that it had taken SMA a year to update it and has met «stakeholders and SMA staff to have their aspirations included in the document.» In his address at the closing ceremony, the Minister for Environment, Energy, and Climate Change, Flavien Joubert, said that with this new plan, «policymakers may now make informed decisions based on scientific facts in matters of national importance.» On his side, the  chairperson of the SMA board, Gerard Hoareau, said: «The recent series of disasters caused by the torrential rain of 6 December 2023 and 1 March this year are just a few of the latest examples of how catastrophic weather extremes can be.» Hoareau said SMA has done a lot already to deliver on its mandate. The authority has a strategic plan in place with measurable performance indicators to monitor progress, as well as an ISO certification since 2023, and «is moving towards commercialisation and work has been completed on cost recovery for the provision of aeronautical meteorological services as well those for non-aviation weather services or public weather services,» said Hoareau. He added that «SMA and its partners will continue to drive the full value cycle, from science to services to action for the good of society.» Meanwhile, newly recruited forecasters who have followed a training session at SMA also received their validation certificates, which Amelie said has «familiarised them with working with the Seychelles conditions and granting them with the skills to work on their shift on their own.»

Seychelles and US complete 2nd bilateral military operation within EEZ

The Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and the United States Coast Guard have completed a second bilateral operation within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the island nation under an agreement signed between the two countries in July 2021. This year is th
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Seychelles and US complete 2nd bilateral military operation within EEZ

The Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and the United States Coast Guard have completed a second bilateral operation within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the island nation under an agreement signed between the two countries in July 2021. This year is the second such operation conducted since the signing of the agreement on countering illicit transnational maritime activity operations in the Seychelles waters and the Indian Ocean. The first one was held in March last year. The director of operations for the Seychelles Coast Guard, Major Hans Radegonde, told reporters that the operation lasted seven days at sea with eight boardings conducted. «Our missions were mainly intelligence-based, we collaborated closely with our maritime operations centre,» he said. The bilateral agreement between the Seychelles and the United States government came about after both countries saw the need to promote greater cooperation in dealing with illicit transnational maritime activities. It was the first of its kind between the two countries and the first one between the U.S. and an eastern African country. Such cooperation is achieved through the planning and execution of combined maritime operations where U.S. forces embarked on board the SDF vessels and conducted missions within the Seychelles' waters. The cooperation allows both states to understand better the challenges that a small country like Seychelles faces to conduct operations over a vast maritime space effectively. It also allows the SDF personnel to operate with and learn from seasoned maritime forces with much more experience. Apart from operational successes, the bilateral operation also allows the SDF to assess the training its personnel has participated in. This year participants who had just completed training as part of Cutlass Express 2024 were deployed and this provided an opportunity to validate everything they had learned. The U.S. Chargé d'Affaires for Seychelles, Adham Loufti, said, «Our cooperation on maritime security is a visible sign of our mutual goal of a more secure and prosperous Indian Ocean region. It gives me great satisfaction to know that Seychelles and the United States continue to work side by side, demonstrating great dedication, courage and sacrifice to ensure the safety and security of our maritime spaces.» Loufti emphasised the importance of protecting the Indian Ocean region, especially considering the resurgence of piracy and the conflict in the Red Sea, which could impact the shipping routes in the area and in return the cost of food, medicine and fuel. He said that the U.S. will continue to support Seychelles by transferring defence articles and services via the foreign military financing programme, and implementing a significant security cooperation initiative for maritime domain awareness in the western Indian Ocean. This will also include «conducting assessments and sharing information to support institutional capacity building, sending dozens of students to the United States for professional military education and conducting subject matter expert exchange right here in Seychelles.»

UN Security Council to vote Friday on US resolution on Gaza ceasefire: US

The United States, which has repeatedly blocked calls for a truce in Gaza, will submit a draft resolution urging «an immediate ceasefire» linked to the release of the hostages held by Hamas, the US representative said Thursday. The US resolution
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UN Security Council to vote Friday on US resolution on Gaza ceasefire: US

The United States, which has repeatedly blocked calls for a truce in Gaza, will submit a draft resolution urging «an immediate ceasefire» linked to the release of the hostages held by Hamas, the US representative said Thursday. The US resolution, which will be put to vote on Friday, «will unequivocally support ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of a hostage deal,» Nate Evans, spokesman for US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said in a statement. The measure «is an opportunity for the Council to speak with one voice to support the diplomacy happening on the ground and pressure Hamas to accept the deal on the table,» Evans added. The United States, Israel's main backer, has previously used its UN Security Council veto to block the world body from calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian territory. Since blocking an Algerian draft resolution calling for an «immediate humanitarian ceasefire» in Gaza at the end of February, US officials have been negotiating an alternative text focusing on support for diplomatic efforts on the ground for a six-week truce in exchange for the release of hostages. According to diplomatic sources, this text had little chance of gaining the Council's approval and a new version was circulated to Security Council members on Wednesday. An alternative draft resolution is also under discussion and could also be put to a vote on Friday, according to a diplomatic source. Supported by several of the nonpermanent members of the Council, it «demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire for the month of Ramadan,» according to the text seen by AFP. Ramadan began on March 10 and ends on April 9. © Agence France-Presse  

Sudan among 'worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory': UN

After nearly a year of war, Sudan is suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, the United Nations warned Wednesday, slamming the international community for its lack of action. Fighting between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and hi
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Sudan among 'worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory': UN

After nearly a year of war, Sudan is suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, the United Nations warned Wednesday, slamming the international community for its lack of action. Fighting between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has since April killed tens of thousands and led to acute food shortages and a looming risk of famine. «By all measures -- the sheer scale of humanitarian needs, the numbers of people displaced and facing hunger -- Sudan is one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory,» said Edem Wosornu, director of operations at the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). «A humanitarian travesty is playing out in Sudan under a veil of international inattention and inaction,» Wosornu told the Security Council on Wednesday on behalf of UNOCHA head Martin Griffiths. «Simply put, we are failing the people of Sudan,» she added, describing the population's «desperation.» The United States, the top donor for Sudan, later Wednesday announced another $47 million in humanitarian assistance. Julieta Valls Noyes, the top US diplomat dealing with refugees, made the announcement in Chad as she met Prime Minister Succes Masra, saying the aid would go to neighboring countries welcoming Sudanese refugees including Chad and South Sudan -- themselves among the world's poorest nations. According to the UN, the conflict has seen more than eight million people displaced. The Security Council earlier this month called for an immediate ceasefire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and urged better access to humanitarian aid. But «I regret to report that there has not been major progress on the ground,» Wosornu told the Council Wednesday. In total, more than 18 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity -- a record during harvest season, and 10 million more than at this time last year -- while 730,000 Sudanese children are thought to suffer from severe malnutrition. Griffiths warned the Security Council last week in a letter seen by AFP that «almost five million people could slip into catastrophic food insecurity in some parts of the country in the coming months.» UN World Food Programme deputy executive director Carl Skau said Wednesday, «If we are going to prevent Sudan from becoming the world's largest hunger crisis, coordinated efforts and joined up diplomacy is urgent and critical.» He cautioned there is a «high risk» the country could see famine levels of hunger when the agricultural lean season begins in May. Malnutrition is «already claiming children's lives,» Wosornu said, adding that humanitarian experts estimate some 222,000 children could die of the condition in the coming weeks and months. Additionally, she said, children weakened from hunger are at a higher risk of dying from other preventable causes, as more than 70 percent of the country's health infrastructure has collapsed. © Agence France-Presse

Tanzanian national sentenced 12 years in prison in Seychelles for importation of cocaine

The Seychelles Supreme Court has sentenced a 50-year-old Tanzanian national to 12 years in prison for the importation of a controlled drug, the Seychelles Police said on Thursday. According to the police, Shabani  Kizamba Shabani was arrested on September
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Tanzanian national sentenced 12 years in prison in Seychelles for importation of cocaine

The Seychelles Supreme Court has sentenced a 50-year-old Tanzanian national to 12 years in prison for the importation of a controlled drug, the Seychelles Police said on Thursday. According to the police, Shabani  Kizamba Shabani was arrested on September 26 in 2022 upon his arrival in Seychelles on a Qatar Airways flight by police and airport officials. A total of 984.78 grammes of cocaine was found in his possession after he was searched. Under the Misuse of Drug Act, 2016,  the maximum penalty for importing a controlled Class A drug is a term of life imprisonment and a fine of up to SCR 1 million ($74,200). Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has a zero-tolerance drug policy and has stepped up measures to combat the trafficking of illicit drugs on its shores.  

30 Seychellois dancers to take centre stage at Artistic Dance Grand Prix Moscow

Thirty Seychellois dancers will take centre stage in the Artistic Dance Grand Prix Moscow from March 23 to 25, the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts (SNICHA) said in a press statement on Thursday. The dancers are from the Schoo
Seychelles News Agency

30 Seychellois dancers to take centre stage at Artistic Dance Grand Prix Moscow

Thirty Seychellois dancers will take centre stage in the Artistic Dance Grand Prix Moscow from March 23 to 25, the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts (SNICHA) said in a press statement on Thursday. The dancers are from the School of Dance, Emergency Crew, Diamonds, and the Artistic Dance Factory, and will perform the seductive rhythms of Latin and ballroom dance to the emotive expressions of contemporary and jazz. The Artistic Dance Grand Prix will take place at the prestigious Radisson Collection Hotel in Moscow.   According to SNICHA, the dancers aged seven to 43 years «are ready to mesmerise audiences and judges alike with their unmatched skill and artistry. Adding to the allure, they will also bring Afrobeat to Moscow, engaging in a spirited competition, promising a dynamic display of Afro-inspired choreography.» SNICHA said that beyond the realms of competition, this journey holds a deeper significance and that is the cultural exchange. As the Seychellois dancers take the spotlight, they are also laying the foundation for an ambitious campaign to bring more participants to the All-African Artistic Dance Championship that will take place in Seychelles from September 14 to 15 at the Berjaya Vallon Bay Resort. The event is poised to celebrate the diverse tapestry of dance styles from across the African continent. Leading the delegation is the permanent secretary of SNICHA, Cecile Kalebi, whose unwavering support has enabled Seychellois dancers to participate in the opportunities available on the global stage. She will be accompanied by Deborah Fanchette, a coordinator from the Seychelles National Youth Council, who will also serve as an adjudicator to ensure a fair and insightful evaluation of the performances. SNICHA said, «For the dancers of Seychelles, this journey signifies a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in new cultures, learn from international peers, and showcase the rich tapestry of talent and creativity that defines Seychellois dance.» Additionally, for Fanchette, this is an opportunity to contribute to the global dialogue on dance and the possibility of offering a Seychellois perspective to the championship process. Kalebi will also seize the chance to visit and explore potential cultural exchange opportunities. As the Seychellois dance delegation gears up to grace the world stage, they carry with them the dreams and aspirations of a nation that recognises the transformative power of dance to unite, inspire, and transcend boundaries. These dancers will shine as ambassadors of Seychellois culture, leaving an indelible mark on the global dance community.

Seychelles Solid Waste Management Project being prepared, $5m World Bank loan awaited 

The Seychelles Solid Waste Management Project (SWMP) is in the preparation phase as the government awaits final approval of a $5 million loan from the World Bank within the second half of the year. The project, which aims to promote sustainable solid wast
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Seychelles Solid Waste Management Project being prepared, $5m World Bank loan awaited 

The Seychelles Solid Waste Management Project (SWMP) is in the preparation phase as the government awaits final approval of a $5 million loan from the World Bank within the second half of the year. The project, which aims to promote sustainable solid waste management and circularity in Seychelles, will be implemented by the Landscape and Waste Management Agency (LWMA) under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment. The director of the Division for Waste, Enforcement and Permit Division, Nanette Laure, described the project «as a crucial initiative for the country as it is expected to improve and address urgent challenges in solid waste management in an integrated manner. The management of solid waste is a priority for the government.» The project will have three components - improving the solid waste management system, strengthening operations and increasing disposal capacity at Providence Landfill. This component aims to improve the design and management of the landfill infrastructure through a design-build-operate contract. The project will also support the entrepreneurial circular economy ecosystem through gender-smart training modules. The project also has a management component to support the incremental operating costs for the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and project management consultants. These include measures to strengthen the capacity of the PIU to manage the environmental, and social risks of the project activities. Laure added that there is an entrepreneurship component, because to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill, people, especially women, will be encouraged to take up innovative businesses that deal with this waste. The deputy chief executive of the LWMA, Rahul Mangroo said,«The Providence Landfill is gradually filling up, soon we will have to find ways to improve this situation, and part of the project is dedicated to fixing the infrastructure of the landfill and increase capacity while also providing a management component to ensure that waste is dealt with more efficiently.» Mangroo clarified that as part of the requirement for the loan with the World Bank, LWMA must conduct consultations, especially with the residents in the vicinity of the landfill. This will also be done with other stakeholders to provide them with sufficient information on project risks and impacts, as well as potential opportunities. Mangroo confirmed that the consultations are expected to be held next week while the whole project is expected to be completed over five years. 

Zimbabwean farmers buckle under El Nino drought

Ladias Konje's maize field in northeastern Zimbabwe is normally green at this time of the year, but it is already parched yellow. The drought from the El Nino weather pattern has withered leaves, wilted cobs and raised the spectre of hunger for the 38-year-o
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Zimbabwean farmers buckle under El Nino drought

Ladias Konje's maize field in northeastern Zimbabwe is normally green at this time of the year, but it is already parched yellow. The drought from the El Nino weather pattern has withered leaves, wilted cobs and raised the spectre of hunger for the 38-year-old and millions of others. «On a good year we would be relying on fresh maize, pumpkins and groundnuts but there is nothing at all in the fields this time,» said the small-scale farmer. More than 13 million people across southern Africa can't put enough food on the table and the number is expected to surge in the coming months as the result of months of poor rains kick in, according to the United Nations. In Zimbabwe, officials are urging people to tighten their belts as authorities scramble to find alternative food supplies. «Families must not be wasteful. They must be conservative and prepare only food that is enough for the meal,» said Leonard Munamati, who heads the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services, a government agency. Konje said her children are already going to school on an empty stomach. Her tobacco crop that usually brings in some extra cash has also failed, she said. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has promised that no Zimbabwean will starve. But many are worried. As soon as a ruling party lawmaker stepped out of his car upon arriving in Konje's village of Kanyemba for a visit this month, a group of women heading to fetch water from a borehole dropped their buckets and quickly surrounded him to air their grievances. «Families are relying on wild fruits,» MP Tendai Nyabani later told AFP. Kanyemba's Rushinga district is a stronghold of ZANU-PF, the party in power since independence in 1980. Some have resorted to making flour for pap or sadza, a traditional dish, with chemically treated maize seeds meant for planting and handed out under a government programme, he added. - No maize anywhere - The government has teamed up with charities and UN agencies to bring in aid and opposition politicians have called for ZANU-PF leaning areas not to be favoured -- something authorities have been accused of in the past. Officials are also looking at increasing food imports. But this has become harder as El Nino -- which warms the sea surface in the southern Pacific and leads to hotter weather globally -- wreaks havoc across the region. «Traditionally we have been buying organic maize from Zambia. Now Zambia doesn't have (any) and Malawi also doesn't have (any),» said Tafadzwa Musarara, chair of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe. Zambia declared drought a national disaster in February. «We are all now buying GMO maize from South Africa,» said Musarara. Imports of GMO (genetically modified) grains were first allowed in 2020 as Zimbabwe faced another drought. They come with strict conditions: grains can only be milled and planting them can lead to prosecution, according to the agriculture ministry. Meanwhile prices have skyrocketed. In Rushinga, a 25-kilo (55-pound) bag of maize is now selling for up to $15. That is a prohibitive sum in a country where 42 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty, with less than $2.15 a day, according to the UN's World Food Programme (WFP). The crisis has compounded hyperinflation and other pre-existing economic troubles in a country once seen as the region's breadbasket. Zimbabwe's agricultural sector has long struggled to recover from the expropriation of land from white large-scale commercial farmers carried out more than two decades ago under President Robert Mugabe. Aimed at correcting historical wrongs, critics say the move brought agricultural production to its knees, causing a sharp decline in economic output. Now the government is pushing farmers to plant more sorghum, which has proven more resilient to the dry weather, as well as Austral winter crops including wheat and Irish potato. With climate change expected to make drought and other extreme weather events more frequent, it also plans to build water reservoirs to serve Rushinga and neighbouring regions. Construction work for two dams started in 2018 and is proceeding slowly after a lull imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. «If these two dams are completed, I think we are going to have a long-lasting solution... in terms of food and water supply,» said Nyabani, the lawmaker. © Agence France-Presse

Census to identify status of Seychelles endemic terrapins being discussed

A census to determine the general status of the Seychelles endemic terrapins is being discussed by the Biodiversity and Conservation Unit in the environment ministry. Ashley Pothin, a conservation officer from the unit,  said that 16 years have passed sinc
Seychelles News Agency

Census to identify status of Seychelles endemic terrapins being discussed

A census to determine the general status of the Seychelles endemic terrapins is being discussed by the Biodiversity and Conservation Unit in the environment ministry. Ashley Pothin, a conservation officer from the unit,  said that 16 years have passed since the last one was done and the current state of the population is unknown. «I will not say that the population is really low and that it is alarming but we consider it as a concern because over the years we didn't have an appropriate census to give an exact picture of the terrapin population. In our daily duties we are constantly seeing terrapins around, so we know that they are present in certain areas and we record them in our biodiversity surveys, but this doesn't give us an idea of its status in general for population,» he said. Terrapins are small species of turtles that spend their time both on land and in fresh or brackish water. They have a shell length of up to 30 centimetres. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, is home to three types of terrapin known locally as «torti soupap» -- the Seychelles black mud terrapin, the Seychelles yellow-bellied mud terrapin and the Seychelles terrapin. The IUCN Red List currently classifies the Seychelles terrapin as extinct, though one or a few specimens could conceivably still exist. It was identified from only three specimens collected on Mahe, the main island, at the end of the 19th century. The other two species are considered as critically endangered.  Terrapins are protected under the law of Wild Animals (Seychelles Pond Turtle) Protection Regulations of 1966 and it is forbidden to keep them in captivity and to sell them. A population estimate of the terrapins was done in 2008 by the Island Conservation Society (ICS) with the Ministry of Environment and others when there was a relocation exercise on North Island. The areas covered were La Digue, North East Point, Beau Vallon, Anse Intendance, Anse La Mouche, Anse Forbans Sud, Fregate Island, Ile Au Cerf, and Anse Kerlan on Praslin. The baited fish traps laid throughout the marshes of L’Union Estate were used for a temporary relocation of terrapins on La Digue to ensure their protection. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY «Places like Cousin Island and Ste Anne were not covered because of limited time,» said Andre Dufresne, one of the rangers at ICS at that time. The data collected in 2008 indicated around 800 terrapins existed but since some places were not covered in the research, there is reason to believe that the population was over 1,000. A recent report about sewage water pollution in the wetland of Intendance area in the south of Mahe highlighted the need to know more about the status of this species in Seychelles.  «We would like to put in place a research programme as well and to identify new areas where terrapins may have colonised since that they not only live in wetlands but can be found in small streams where the water flows slowly,» said Pothin. Developments near wetlands present a threat to the species that live in there including the terrapins. «Human development in areas around the wetlands poses a threat to the terrapins and the biodiversity in general. The intensity of the impact will depend on the way the activity is regulated or done. But once humans start cutting trees, and building roads in a pristine area, generally there will be an impact. Imposing a setback from the wetland can minimise the effect but there will still be an impact of carbon emission and sewerage leaking,» he added.    Pothin explained that whenever the environment department receives a request to reclaim the wetland, they object to or recommend that the developer setback the development from the wetland. This is because the protection of the buffer around the wetland will ensure that the terrapins can continue to reproduce, since terrapins lay their eggs on the bank of the marsh or wetland. He said that terrapins tend to migrate away from areas where there is a lot of disturbance. The Conservation and Biodiversity Unit has evidence of this because on many occasions it received reports from the public who have seen terrapins on the roads. «I presume that in areas where the impact of pollution happened fast and the terrapins did not get a chance to walk away, then these terrapins would have died in the polluted area. Only when the wetland has dried up can the evidence of carcasses be seen,» added Pothin. The Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS) has been quite active in the translocating exercise of the terrapins over the years in areas such as the Story Seychelles Beach and Resort at Bel Ombre, where it is currently doing weekly monitoring. Rebbeca Filipin, a project assistant at MCSS, says that while they were doing trapping work between 2016 to 2019 in areas such as Anse Intendance, at the Ex-Bayan Tree Hotel, and at Anse Forbans and in the North East Point, the populations were quite healthy with 4 to 6 terrapins in one trap. Grand Police Bay, which still has an untouched wetland with little human activity in the area, is believed to have a larger population of terrapins. Proposal for hotel development in an area rich in biodiversity such as Grand Police met much opposition from the public and the Ministry of Environment in 2017 because of fear that the impact would be destructive to the wetland the marine and terrestrial habitat, and the development was not allowed to go ahead. Christophe Mason-Parker, the chief executive of MCSS, said, «It is important that the existing wetland is protected, do not try to reduce the number and size of wetlands that we have on Mahe and another main granitic island. We also have to keep the wetlands clean and reduce the pollution in order not to affect the terrapins, the wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole.» 

Senegal heads for wide open presidential poll Sunday

Seven million Senegalese are due to head to the polls on Sunday to vote in a wide open presidential election following weeks of chaos and uncertainty. Whoever comes out on top will be tasked with steering the traditionally stable West African nation out of y
Seychelles News Agency

Senegal heads for wide open presidential poll Sunday

Seven million Senegalese are due to head to the polls on Sunday to vote in a wide open presidential election following weeks of chaos and uncertainty. Whoever comes out on top will be tasked with steering the traditionally stable West African nation out of years of turmoil, and managing revenues from recently discovered oil and gas reserves. The 18 men and one woman have until Friday to finish a raucous two-week campaigning period, which was dramatically shortened after a last-minute change to the election date. The election race was also fired up by a rapidly-passed amnesty law that led last week to the release from prison of Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the charismatic Ousmane Sonko, figureheads of the anti-establishment opposition. Although Faye is Sonko's deputy, the former is on the ballot because the latter has been barred from standing. In voters' eyes, they come as a package deal. They plan «to share resources fairly. What belongs to Senegal should be left to Senegal, that's patriotism,» said 38-year-old teacher Gnima Mane in the southern city of Ziguinchor. For the first time in Senegal, the incumbent will not feature on the ballot, with the candidate selected by outgoing President Macky Sall's governing coalition up against 18 rivals. In the central town of Diourbel, many people have faith in Sall's candidate, Amadou Ba. «We have new streetlights, roads and a grass stadium,» said high school student Ousseynou Diene during a rally for Ba. - Wide open race -  Senegal has traditionally been considered a beacon of democracy and stability in coup-hit West Africa. But Sall's last-minute decision in February to delay the presidential vote due later that month sparked unrest that left four people dead. Sall, who had won praise abroad by renouncing a possible third term bid in 2023, said he called off the vote over fears the ballot would not go well. After weeks of political crisis, the country's top constitutional body stepped in and forced him to reset the date to March 24. Ba and Faye, who has pitched himself as the «candidate for system change» and «left-wing pan-Africanism», both claim they will be able to win in the first round. Khalifa Sall, the former mayor of the capital Dakar, has also been mentioned as an outsider. But the election remains wide open. The race is «the most open» of the 12 presidential votes held under universal suffrage since Senegal gained independence from France in 1960, said Sidy Diop, deputy editor of Le Soleil daily.  - Sovereigntist rhetoric - The recent unrest witnessed in Senegal was the latest chapter in various episodes of violence since 2021, triggered partly by the stand-off between the firebrand Sonko and the state. Economic and social tensions, as well as concerns that Macky Sall would run for a third term, also fuelled the unrest that left dozens killed and hundreds arrested. In a bid to end the latest crisis, the government passed an amnesty law and released hundreds of prisoners, including Sonko and Faye. The pair are hoping to harness Sonko's charisma and popular appeal in a country where half of the population are under 20. Sonko has drawn a passionate following with Senegal's youth through his sovereigntist rhetoric, as well as attacks on elites, multinationals and former colonial ruler France. «The greatest danger facing Senegal today is Amadou Ba,» Sonko said during a press conference the day after his release, denouncing the former prime minister as a «billionaire civil servant» who «will be the president of foreign countries».  - 'Share the prosperity' -  At a recent rally, Ba urged people to vote «for experience and competence instead of entrusting the reins of the country to adventurers». His candidacy has not been smooth sailing, though, with some dissent coming from within his own camp. Ba says he wants to «share the prosperity» generated by Sall's development plan and has pledged to create one million jobs in five years. But Sall's legacy also includes persistent poverty, with unemployment officially at 20 percent and thousands making the perilous voyage to Europe each year. Senegal is due to join the ranks of oil and gas producers this year, but some fear that a newfound rush of petrodollars would lead to corruption, instability and even greater poverty. Experts have warned of the potential for flaring tensions on Sunday, particularly if Ba wins in the first round or Faye fails to reach the second. Provisional results could be known overnight. © Agence France-Presse 

Gaza hunger warnings grow amid ceasefire talks

Tensions surged as Hamas's chief accused Israel on Tuesday of sabotaging talks for a Gaza truce after it raided the devastated Palestinian territory's largest hospital for a second time. Months of war have pushed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the
Seychelles News Agency

Gaza hunger warnings grow amid ceasefire talks

Tensions surged as Hamas's chief accused Israel on Tuesday of sabotaging talks for a Gaza truce after it raided the devastated Palestinian territory's largest hospital for a second time. Months of war have pushed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the besieged territory to the brink of famine, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying everyone in Gaza was now in need of humanitarian aid. A UN-backed assessment meanwhile said 300,000 people in the territory's north would face famine by May without a surge of aid. UN rights chief Volker Turk said Israel was blocking aid and conducting the conflict in a way that «may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war». Israeli troops on Tuesday were pressing an assault on Gaza's biggest hospital, which they allege is being used for military purposes, saying more than 50 fighters had been killed and around 300 suspects arrested and taken for questioning. In response, Hamas's Qatar-based chief Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel of seeking to «sow chaos and perpetuate violence» and «sabotage ongoing negotiations in Doha». «The actions of the Zionist occupation forces at Al-Shifa Medical Complex confirm their intent to obstruct the recovery of life in Gaza and dismantle essential aspects of human existence,» Haniyeh said. It came as negotiations on a ceasefire in Qatar had restarted, after weeks of talks failed to secure a truce for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began last week. Israel's spy chief David Barnea kicked off a new round of talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Monday. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said he was «cautiously optimistic» but it was «too early to announce any successes». Ansari said they were expecting a counter-proposal to be presented to Hamas after both sides rejected previous offers, adding that technical talks would continue. - 'Screamed in fear' - The bloodiest ever Gaza war broke out after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Militants also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead. Israel has responded with a relentless offensive against Hamas that has killed at least 31,819 people, most of them women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry. Blinken, who will travel to Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week to try to shore up support for the temporary truce and an increase in aid, highlighted that everyone in Gaza was now suffering «severe levels of acute food insecurity». «That's the first time an entire population has been so classified,» he said during a visit to the Philippines. Underlining his point, AFPTV footage showed desperate crowds gathered at the Jabalia refugee camp to get a portion of carrot soup. «We came to queue, but they threw us out,» said Jabalia resident Musaab al-Masry, lamenting that there was not enough food for everyone. Further south, a diplomatic storm continued to rumble around the city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere in the territory. US President Joe Biden is putting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull back from a threatened full-scale ground operation. But Netanyahu said he told Biden «we are determined to complete the elimination of these battalions in Rafah, and there is no way to do this without a ground incursion». The city is already under bombardment, with AFPTV footage showing residents picking through debris of buildings on Tuesday after another night of strikes. Torrential rains piled onto the misery overnight, with many displaced having nowhere to run but makeshift tents. Oum Abdullah Alwan said her children «screamed in fear» because «we can't tell the difference between the sound of rain and the sound of shelling». - Hospital raid - For the past two months, much of the Israeli military effort has been focused on the south. Officials declared in January that the Hamas command structure in northern Gaza had been dismantled. But the assault on Al-Shifa threw the spotlight back on the north. Israel has long accused militants of using hospitals as bases and troops previously raided Al-Shifa last November, sparking an international outcry. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said this week that Palestinian militants and commanders had since returned to Al-Shifa «and turned it into a command centre». An army statement late Tuesday said «dozens of prominent terrorists» from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad were among those arrested in the operation. Witnesses reported air strikes and tanks near the hospital compound, which is crowded with thousands of displaced civilians, as well as the sick and wounded. Also on Tuesday, a Palestinian man was killed by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, a local official said, with the Israeli army saying a soldier shot a suspect during a disturbance. According to the health ministry in Ramallah, Israeli troops and settlers have killed at least 430 Palestinians in the West Bank since the Gaza war began. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles' Fitch rating's BB - with positive outlook shows «continuing economic growth,» says top official

Seychelles' new Fitch Rating of BB- with positive outlook shows the continuing economic growth of the island nation, said a top official of the Department of Finance on Wednesday. The statement was made by the principal secretary for finance, Astride Tamatav
Seychelles News Agency

Seychelles' Fitch rating's BB - with positive outlook shows «continuing economic growth,» says top official

Seychelles' new Fitch Rating of BB- with positive outlook shows the continuing economic growth of the island nation, said a top official of the Department of Finance on Wednesday. The statement was made by the principal secretary for finance, Astride Tamatave, in a press conference, after the latest Fitch Ratings was released last Friday, upgrading Seychelles from a BB- with stable outlook to BB- with a positive outlook. «This rating shows that Fitch Rating, as a credit rating agency, has become more optimistic about the future of Seychelles credit worthiness. This also shows that Seychelles' various fiscal and monetary policies adopted by the Central Bank and the government after the COVID-19 pandemic, to re-launch the economy, is working,» said Tamatave. She explained that in 2023, Seychelles attained a primary fiscal performance of 1.8 percent of GDP, with debt dropping to 60.1 percent of GDP. The Ratings stated that tourist arrivals and tourism earnings increased by 5.7 percent and 5.8 percent respectively in 2023, reflecting a stabilisation after 82 percent and 59 percent increases in 2022. Aside from tourism, Tamatave shared that the information and communication technology sector has contributed greatly to the economy in 2023, alongside fisheries by 2.5 percent. The first deputy governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles, Brian Commettant, said this improvement to the Seychelles' Fitch Rating can also be attributed to the country's increase in foreign exchange. In 2023, there was an increase of 5.8 percent in foreign exchange entering Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. «This has also helped to support the country's reserves, which have increased from $639 million in 2022 to $682 million in 2023, which based on estimates, will be able to cover at least three months of importation,» he added. Despite the positive outlook from the Fitch Ratings, the report has noted that Seychelles remains susceptible to the impacts of climate change, with the island nation excessively vulnerable to the dangers posed by sea level rise, with effects already being noticed mostly through an increase in storm frequency and intensity that is rendering some coastal infrastructure useless.

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