Strategic Horizons included in its Fall 2025 issue an article titled "Seychelles at a Crossroads: Democracy, Development, and the Geopolitical Chessboard" by Achala Gunasekara-Rockwell.
The primary focus of the article is the internal situation in Seychelles and the 2025 presidential elections that occurred after publication. There was no outright winner in the election as a candidate must win more than 50 percent of the vote. Opposition candidate Patrick Herminie received 48.8 percent of the vote while the incumbent, Wavel Ramkalawan, garnered 46.4 percent. A runoff election will take place from October 9-11.
A subtheme in the article is the role of Seychelles in great power competition, especially involving China and India. A small state like Seychelles, strategically located in the Indian Ocean, must navigate the shifting tectonics of great power competition. The author concludes that Seychelles "ability to assert its sovereignty while deftly managing the competing pressures of China and India is a masterclass in small-state agency. Seychelles' refusal to allow itself to become a pawn in Beijing's Maritime Silk Road strategy or New Delhi's counterbalancing efforts speaks to its determination to prioritize national interests over external agendas."
