This update covers developments relating to civic space in the Seychelles from 1st January 2026 to 30th September 2026.
GENERAL
Three civic space concerns raised during fourth UPR cycle
On 8th May 2026, Seychelles underwent its fourth cycle of review under the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism.
Three areas of concern regarding civic space were raised, with accompanying recommendations:
- Regarding freedom of association: Section 25 of the Associations Act 2022 that requires interested candidates to an executive committee position within an association to apply to the Registrar for prior approval. The International Service for Human Rights and the Association for Rights Information and Democracy expressed that this requirement constitutes government interference in the operation of associations.
- Regarding freedom of peaceful assembly: The Public Assembly Act, which empowers the Commissioner of Police to impose restrictions on assemblies or processions “in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health”.
- Regarding media freedom: UNESCO noted that all seven members of the Seychelles Media Commission, the body overseeing media regulation, were appointed by the President of Seychelles. To ensure the independence and effectiveness of this commission, the United Nations country team had recommended in 2025 that the nomination process aligns with international standards and good practices from other small island developing States. The Citizens Engagement Platform (CEPS) stated that, although Seychelles’ media landscape had strengthened and diversified, continued investment and support is still needed, in particular to ensure women reporters and bloggers remain free of online harassment.
The recommendations to remove the restrictions in the above mentioned legislation and to strengthen the independence of the Seychelles Media Commission were only “noted” by Seychelles, not accepted.
Progress on the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
In August 2026, a new committee was established to oversee the implementation of recommendations from the Truth, Reconciliation, and National Unity Commission regarding human rights violations linked to the 1977 coup and to determine compensation owed to victims. Between 2018 and 2022, the Truth Commission revealed unlawful killings, detentions and other human rights violations and issued a series of recommendations related to reconciliation, national unity, and reparations for victims. Before his election, the President had pledged to implement the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Proposed Law Enforcement Integrity and Accountability Bill 2026
On 26th August 2026, the Cabinet approved in principle the Law Enforcement Integrity and Accountability Bill which establishes a comprehensive legal framework to strengthen integrity and accountability in law enforcement and security agencies. It introduces measures such as the mandatory use of body-worn cameras during specified operations and stronger protection of classified operational information. In November 2025, Seychelles police received its first bodycams but the infrastructure required for wider deployment remains limited.
EXPRESSION
Media Association expresses concern over hatred directed at journalists on social media
In May 2026, the Media Association Seychelles (MAS) issued a statement expressing its concern about “the hateful nature of a chat thread being shared over the social media platform WhatsApp”. The thread, entitled ‘The state of Journalism in the Seychelles’, launches a direct attack on local journalists that it names and questions their integrity. The Media Association is alarmed as these serious allegations could lead to violence against those mentioned.
New bill grants President substantial control over appointments to Broadcasting Corporation Board
On 13th July 2026, the National Assembly of Seychelles passed the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation Bill 2026. According to the explanatory statement of the bill, it “seeks to establish a modern, independent, editorially autonomous, and financially sustainable public broadcasting institution capable of serving the democratic, cultural,
social, and educational needs of all the people of Seychelles in the digital age”.
Before its adoption, several international organisations dedicated to supporting media freedom, public service media and independent journalism expressed their concerns about the weakening of the managerial and operational independence of the public broadcaster and wrote to the Minister of Information.
They denounced the replacement of the independent Constitutional Appointments Authority with a president-appointed select committee. The Board will now consist of 11 members, of whom 4 will be appointed by the President from candidates proposed by a Select Committee. The Select Committee itself is appointed by the President. The President also appoints the Chief Executive Officer and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (article 12). According to the critics, these provisions remove safeguards to insulate the broadcaster from political pressure.
The final provisions of the Act are criticised too: the Act established that the funds of the public broadcaster shall consist of “moneys appropriated, from time to time, by the National Assembly” (article 20(1)a)) and thus is not a guaranteed and safeguarded funding mechanism.
For audiences to maintain trust and confidence in public service media as editorially independent organisations that hold power to account on their behalf, protecting their institutional independence across governance and funding mechanisms is essential.
- Public Media Alliance
Strong support for media freedom across Seychellois
The survey research network Afrobarometer published a report in August 2026 on Seychelles citizens’ perception of the media. More than three-quarters of respondents (78%) agree that the media should “constantly investigate and report on government mistakes and corruption”. 52% of respondents are of the opinion that, in practice, the country’s media is “not very free” or “not at all free”.
ASSEMBLY
March against coast guard base proposal on Assumption Island
On 17th February 2026, the President announced that Seychelles and India had agreed to collaborate and expand a coast guard base on Assumption Island, which is adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Aldabra Atoll. The island is strategically positioned alongside recognised ecological value. The President reaffirmed and clarified that there were no discussions about leasing Assumption Island for military purposes, as was discussed in previous years.
On 28th February 2026, a protest march took place in Victoria against the proposed plan for a coast guard base. It was organised by the opposition party Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS). Demonstrators expressed concerns about sovereignty, transparency, and environmental risks.