Seychelles’ opposition leader Patrick Herminie won the presidential election, defeating incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan in a runoff with 52.7% of the vote, the electoral commission announced.
Herminie’s United Seychelles party also secured a parliamentary majority last month.
This marks a significant political shift for the archipelago nation, restoring control to the party that governed for decades until 2020.
Herminie, a former parliamentary speaker from 2007 to 2016, campaigned on reducing living costs, reviving public services, and uniting the nation.
His victory follows charges of witchcraft in 2023, which he called politically motivated; the charges were dropped in 2024.
In his victory speech, Herminie emphasized inclusivity, stating he aims to end divisions and ensure opportunities for all Seychellois.
Ramkalawan, a former Anglican priest who led since 2020, congratulated Herminie, citing his legacy in economic recovery and social protections.
Seychelles, Africa’s wealthiest nation per capita, spans 1.2 million square kilometers in the Indian Ocean, known for tourism and foreign investment.
Herminie pledged to lower the retirement age from 65 to 63 and address recommendations from a truth and reconciliation commission on past human rights abuses.
He also vowed to cancel a hotel project threatening a UNESCO-listed coral atoll, responding to environmental concerns.
Despite its wealth, Seychelles faces challenges, including high heroin use and climate vulnerability, which Herminie’s administration aims to tackle.