African island nation decides its future as Wavel Ramkalawan seeks a second term against Patrick Herminie.Published On 11 Oct 202511 Oct 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareVoters in Seychelles have been casting their ballots in a tightly fought presidential run-off between incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan and opposition leader Patrick Herminie.Polls opened in the African island nation on Saturday, with results expected on Sunday.Recommended Stories list of 2 itemsend of listThe election will determine whether Ramkalawan of the governing Linyon Demokratik Seselwa party secures a second five-year term or Herminie’s United Seychelles party returns to power after losing control five years ago.The United Seychelles party, led by Herminie, was the governing party between 1977 and 2022, before losing power.It regained ground in last month’s parliamentary elections, winning 15 of 26 seats.Neither candidate won outright in the first round two weeks ago.Herminie led with 48.8 percent of the vote compared with Ramkalawan’s 46.4 percent, forcing a final round run-off in the nation of 120,000 people.Early voting began on Thursday at special locations including elderly care homes, schools and several outer islands. Main polling stations opened after 7am (03:00 GMT) on Saturday for the more than 77,000 registered voters.Several contentious issues have dominated this electoral cycle.A controversial land lease has emerged as a central campaign flashpoint, with the government granting a Qatari company a 70-year agreement to build a luxury resort on Assumption Island for $20m.Environmental groups filed a legal challenge to halt the project, arguing it threatens a fragile ecosystem near the UNESCO-protected Aldabra atoll, home to 400 unique species. Advertisement Herminie has pledged to cancel the hotel development if elected, while also promising to lower the retirement age and reduce public transport costs. Ramkalawan, the incumbent, has defended the Qatar deal as a necessary investment for the tourism-dependent economy.Drug addiction has also dominated voter concerns. The country face …
