U.S. Embassy Notes Growing Enthusiasm Among Seychellois Youth This Election

VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Political and Economic Assistant at the United States Embassy, Marie-Anette Ernesta, has said that, compared to 2020, there is a noticeable increase in the level of enthusiasm among Seychellois youth during the 2025 election season, although engagement still does not match that of adults.

Speaking at a youth civic engagement programme organised at the American Space on Saturday in partnership with the Seychelles National Youth Council and Citizens Democracy Watch Seychelles, Mrs Ernesta recalled that in 2020, ahead of the national elections, the embassy partnered with CDWS to run a campaign encouraging youth to register to vote, but that the youth then showed little interest in registering. ‘This year, during the election season, we saw an opportunity to engage them in conversations about democracy,’ she said.

‘Many of them hear these big words but do not truly understand what they mean, so we took the chance to share some theories and concepts to help them grasp what democracy really is,’ she added, noting that civic education should not stop at election season. ‘It is important for our youth to have access to civic education. I have observed that, as a country, we do not provide young people with enough guidance on important civic concepts.’

Also present was Eline Moses, chairperson and alumna of the International Visitor Leadership Programme, who facilitated discussions on elections and their importance, noting that young people are constantly exposed to a flood of information during the campaign season which they may not fully understand. Participants Stanio Arissol and Rhea Canaya said they found the session insightful, with Mr Arissol noting that the facilitators explained that youth have the freedom to run for president as stated in the Constitution.