President Ramkalawan Calls for Renewed Commitment to Dignity in Mauritius
VICTORIA, Seychelles — President Wavel Ramkalawan on Thursday attended the official wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 189th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius, held at the Le Morne International Slave Route Monument. The ceremony was attended by Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the Mauritian Vice President, the Council of Ministers and other distinguished guests. President Ramkalawan, who is currently in Mauritius as the chief guest for the event, had the honour of also addressing those present on this momentous occasion. The address is being seen as one of the most significant set-piece speeches of his overseas calendar for 2024.
In his address, the Seychellois head of state called for a reaffirmed commitment to promoting, defending the dignity and rights of all people. He drew a direct line from the historical experience of slavery in the Indian Ocean to the contemporary challenges of discrimination, exclusion, and the protection of fundamental freedoms. The address, in effect, framed the abolition of slavery as an ongoing project rather than a closed chapter. The President also emphasised the responsibility of present-day leaders to give practical effect to the values that the abolition movement championed. The framing of the speech as a call to action, rather than a commemoration, set the tone for the rest of the day’s events.
The Le Morne International Slave Route Monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that commemorates the history of slavery in Mauritius, and the role of the mountain as a refuge for escaped slaves known as maroons. The monument has become a focal point for commemorative events in the Indian Ocean region, and the wreath-laying ceremony is one of the centrepieces of the annual abolition commemorations in Mauritius. The presence of President Ramkalawan as chief guest was a mark of the close ties between the two island nations, and of the shared commitment to keeping the history of slavery at the centre of public memory.
The visit is also being used as an opportunity to discuss bilateral issues between Seychelles and Mauritius, including cooperation on the maritime boundary, the management of the joint commission on the Blue Economy, and the operation of the existing air services agreement. The two leaders are also expected to use the visit to coordinate positions on a number of regional issues, including the situation in the Western Indian Ocean and the work of the Indian Ocean Commission. A fuller readout of the discussions is expected to be released by State House in the coming days.
President Ramkalawan is expected to return to Seychelles on Saturday after the conclusion of the official programme in Mauritius. The visit follows his participation in a number of regional and international events in recent months, including the December 7 commemoration at home, the Indian Ocean Rim Association summit, and the Heads of State meeting of the Indian Ocean Commission. The Mauritius trip is the first overseas engagement of 2024, and is being treated in Victoria as a key moment in the country’s foreign policy calendar for the year ahead.
