Citizens across Seychelles cast their ballots on Saturday, October 11, 2025, in a pivotal presidential runoff election. The race pits incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan against opposition challenger Patrick Herminie, whose party aims to reclaim leadership after four decades in power.
The need for a runoff arose after the initial election two weeks prior yielded no clear victor. Official results showed Mr. Herminie narrowly leading with 48.8% of the vote, while President Ramkalawan secured 46.4%. To avoid a second round, a candidate must achieve over 50% of the total votes.
While a period of early voting began on Thursday, October 9, 2025, the majority of Seychellois citizens cast their votes on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Polling stations across the nation opened promptly at 7:00 AM local time, with election results anticipated by Sunday, October 12, 2025.
The battle between Mr. Herminie and President Ramkalawan is proving to be incredibly close, with both candidates having conducted vigorous campaigns. They have keenly focused on issues vital to voters, such as combating environmental degradation and tackling the severe drug addiction crisis that has affected this renowned tourist paradise.
Patrick Herminie is the standard-bearer for the United Seychelles party, a political force that historically dominated the nation’s governance from 1977 until 2020, before experiencing a loss of power five years ago. Conversely, President Wavel Ramkalawan, representing the incumbent Linyon Demokratik Seselwa party, is campaigning for his second term in office.
This stunning 115-island archipelago, nestled in the Indian Ocean, has carved out a reputation for luxury and eco-tourism. Its success has propelled Seychelles to the forefront of Africa’s wealthiest nations, measured by gross domestic product per capita, as reported by the World Bank. Despite this prosperity, dissent against the ruling party has steadily increased.
Just one week before the initial round of voting, activists launched a legal challenge against the government regarding a controversial decision. This involved granting a long-term lease for a vast 400,000-square-meter (100-acre) plot on Assomption Island, the largest in the country, to a Qatari firm for a luxury hotel development. The lease agreement, which also permits the rebuilding of an airstrip for international flight access, has sparked considerable public outcry. Critics argue it prioritizes foreign economic interests above Seychelles’ national well-being and sovereignty.
As an island nation, Seychelles faces significant threats from climate change, particularly rising sea levels, according to assessments from both the World Bank and the UN Sustainable Development Group.
Beyond environmental concerns, Seychelles is also grappling with a severe heroin addiction crisis. A 2017 United Nations report highlighted the country’s role as a major drug transit route, while the 2023 Global Organised Crime Index alarmingly indicated that Seychelles has one of the highest rates of heroin addiction globally.