In a historic political shift for the Indian Ocean island nation, Patrick Herminie, the longtime opposition leader and former parliamentary speaker, has clinched the presidency of Seychelles in a decisive runoff vote held on October 12, 2025. The electoral commission announced that Herminie secured 52.7% of the vote, defeating incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan, who garnered 47.3%—a result that marks both a personal triumph for Herminie and a broader trend of incumbent leaders losing power across Southern Africa.
The election, which went to a runoff after no candidate achieved an outright majority in the first round two weeks earlier, was dominated by debates over economic hardship, environmental degradation, and a surging drug addiction crisis. According to Reuters and BBC, Herminie’s United Seychelles party also won back a parliamentary majority last month, reclaiming 15 out of 26 seats and ending five years in opposition. This double victory signals a political resurgence for a party that has shaped Seychelles’ post-independence politics since 1976.
Herminie, a 62-year-old physician who previously led the country’s anti-drug agency, addressed the nation in his victory speech with promises of sweeping reform. "I will be the president of all Seychellois, and I will end divisions by ceasing preferences and giving everyone the opportunity to thrive," he declared, as quoted by BBC. He pledged to lower the cost of living, restore public services, and unite the nation—an agenda that resonated deeply with voters frustrated by rising prices and social instability.
The outgoing president, Wavel Ramkalawan, conceded defeat gracefully and offered his congratulations to Herminie. "I leave with a legacy that makes many presidents blush... I hope President Herminie continues to maintain such a level," Ramkalawan remarked, according to AFP. Ramkalawan, who had steered Seychelles through the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic and expanded social protections, nevertheless could not overcome the wave of public discontent that has recently swept other African leaders from office. Indeed, as APA News noted, Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera was also voted out last month, exemplifying a regional pattern of incumbents losing out to challengers amid economic pressures.
The 2025 campaign season in Seychelles was anything but ordinary. While the archipelago boasts the highest GDP per capita in Africa—about $18,000 according to the World Bank—many Seychellois remain vulnerable to economic shocks, climate change, and social challenges. Environmental concerns took center stage, with particular outrage over the government’s controversial decision to lease Assumption Island, just 40 kilometers from the UNESCO-listed Aldabra Atoll, to Qatar for a luxury hotel and private airstrip. Social media erupted after images surfaced of environmental damage, including a tortoise with a broken shell. Herminie seized on the issue, vowing to cancel the 70-year lease and accusing Qatar of financing the ruling party’s campaign. He further revealed that he had written to Qatari authorities on October 8, 2025, urging them to respect Seychelles’ sovereignty.
Herminie’s campaign also zeroed in on the country’s growing heroin addiction crisis. The Agency for Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation estimates that between 5,000 and 6,000 people—out of a total population of roughly 120,000—use heroin, a staggering figure for such a small nation. The islands’ strategic location on a drug trafficking route between Africa and Asia has only exacerbated the problem. Drawing on his experience as the former head of the anti-drug agency, Herminie promised to tackle the epidemic head-on, framing it as a national priority.
Yet Herminie’s path to the presidency was far from smooth. In 2023, he was charged with witchcraft, a case he dismissed as a politically motivated attempt to derail his ambitions. The charges, widely viewed as spurious, were dropped in 2024, clearing the way for his presidential bid. Reflecting on the ordeal, Herminie insisted that justice had prevailed, allowing the Seychellois people to make their voices heard at the ballot box.
The runoff election itself was a reflection of Seychelles’ maturing democracy. The first multi-party elections were held only in 1993, after the adoption of a new constitution. Since then, the country has seen peaceful transfers of power and robust political competition, even as its small population—three-quarters of whom live on the main island of Mahe where the capital Victoria is located—remains acutely aware of the nation’s vulnerabilities.
Climate change looms as perhaps the most existential threat to Seychelles. The archipelago faces rising sea levels, the deterioration of its famed coral reefs, landslides, flooding, and drought. These challenges, highlighted repeatedly during the campaign, underscore the delicate balance between economic development and environmental stewardship. Herminie’s promise to prioritize environmental protection, alongside economic reform, struck a chord with voters alarmed by recent events and the specter of future disasters.
The international community has watched Seychelles’ election closely, both for its implications within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and for the broader message it sends about democratic resilience. As Bloomberg reported, the region has seen a wave of political change, with voters increasingly willing to hold leaders accountable for unmet promises and persistent hardship.
For Herminie, the road ahead is strewn with formidable challenges. Restoring public trust in government, tackling the cost of living, reversing environmental damage, and addressing the drug crisis will require both political skill and genuine commitment. Yet his victory speech—delivered with his wife Veronique by his side and supporters celebrating in Victoria—struck an optimistic note. "This is a new chapter for all Seychellois," he proclaimed, inviting the nation to move beyond past divisions and work together for a brighter future.
Wavel Ramkalawan, for his part, leaves office with a record that includes guiding Seychelles through the pandemic and overseeing economic recovery. His concession, marked by dignity and grace, sets a tone for peaceful democratic transitions in the region—a tradition that, while relatively new in Seychelles, is now firmly established.
As the sun rises on a new era, Seychellois citizens, like many across Africa, are demanding more from their leaders. The 2025 presidential election has set the stage for renewed debate about the nation’s priorities and its place in a rapidly changing world. With Herminie at the helm, all eyes are on Seychelles to see whether promises made on the campaign trail will translate into real change for its people.
