Victoria, Seychelles – Observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) reported that the 2025 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Seychelles were conducted in a calm and orderly environment from September 25 to 27.
The SADC Electoral Observation Mission, led by former Malawian Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda, included 79 personnel, with 64 deployed across 25 of Seychelles’ 26 electoral areas. Observers came from eight SADC member states, including the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The mission noted that campaign activities by political parties and independent candidates were carried out freely, with police presence maintaining order without interfering. Concerns that the Seychelles Defence Force might be used to intimidate voters proved unfounded, as the force was not deployed during the elections.
The Electoral Commission received broad confidence from stakeholders, though some raised questions about the nomination process and the allocation of polling agents, particularly on the outer islands. A total of 45 polling stations served 77,045 registered voters, with women making up approximately 52 percent and youth 31 percent.
Observers reported that 90 percent of polling stations were free of campaign materials, while 67 percent opened on time. All stations were accessible to voters with disabilities, and priority was given to elderly and expectant women. Voting was completed in one to three minutes per voter on average, and ballot boxes remained secure throughout the day.
Women represented 76 percent of electoral officials and 64 percent of party agents, but there were no female presidential candidates and only 40 percent of National Assembly candidates were women. Ultimately, seven of the 26 elected Members of Parliament are women, a slight decline from the previous election.
The SADC mission commended Seychelles for introducing online voter registration, pre-registration for 17-year-olds turning 18, and allowing national ID cards or passports for voting. Equal campaign access on state media was also noted, although some stakeholders expressed concern about coverage of presidential events on public broadcasts.
Post-election observations and recommendations will continue through October 3, with a final report due within 30 days. The mission urged contestants to resolve disputes through established legal channels.
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