Recently, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Patrick Herminie on being elected as the President of Seychelles. Herminie represents the United Seychelles Party, and he received 52.7 percent of the votes.
- Opposition leader of Seychelles Patrick Herminie won the presidential race of the country, defeating the incumbent leader Wavel Ramkalawan in the second round of voting. Herminie received 52.7 percent of the votes, while Ramkalawan received 47.3 percent.
- Herminie represents the United Seychelles Party, which had led the country for four decades before losing power in 2020.
- Herminie’s victory gives his United Seychelles Party full control over the government, as the party also won a majority in parliament during the first round of the general elections last month.
- This victory also marks a major turnaround for Herminie, who was arrested in 2023 on charges of witchcraft, which were later dropped. Earlier, he served as the Speaker of the country’s parliament from 2007 to 2016.
- In his victory speech, Herminie pledged to reduce the cost of living, revitalize public services, and unite the island nation.
Republic of Seychelles
- It is an island country and archipelagic state consisting of 155 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, lies 1,500 kilometers (800 nautical miles) east of mainland Africa.
- The nearby island countries and territories include the Maldives, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and to the south, the French overseas departments of Mayotte and Réunion, and to the east, the Chagos Archipelago. Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa as well as the least populated sovereign African country, with an estimated population of 100,600 in 2022.
- It became independent from the United Kingdom in 1976.
Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand visited India
- Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand arrived in India on 12 October. She will meet Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss cooperation in trade, energy, and security. She will also meet business leaders in Mumbai to promote investment and job creation.
- This visit comes amid efforts to rebuild strained India-Canada relations following recent high-level meetings and diplomatic appointments. It also aims to strengthen ties under Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. From India, Canada’s Foreign Minister will visit Singapore and China.
Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa arrived in India on 13 October
- Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa arrived in India on a four-day state visit from 13 October at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu. This is his first visit to India as Head of State.
- India and Mongolia established diplomatic relations in 1955. Since then, they have built a close partnership based on shared cultural and spiritual values, spanning sectors such as defense, energy, information technology, education, and healthcare.
