VICTORIA, Seychelles — Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Minister Ambassador Barry Faure represented Seychelles at an extraordinary session of the Indian Ocean Commission Council of Ministers held on Tuesday April 7, 2026, which was convened to fill the post of Secretary-General following the expiry of the previous term, with the five member states reaching consensus on the appointment of Dr Ibrahim Norbert Richard of Madagascar, a doctor of law and career diplomat who becomes the 11th Secretary-General in the organisation’s history, in what was also Minister Faure’s first attendance at a Council of Ministers meeting since taking up his portfolio under the Herminie administration. Seychelles was also represented by its permanent liaison officer to the IOC, Ralph Agrippine.
The Indian Ocean Commission is the principal regional body through which Seychelles engages on matters of shared governance, maritime security, sustainable development, and regional cooperation with its nearest neighbours, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the French territory of Réunion. The appointment of a new Secretary-General represents a critical moment for the organisation, as the incoming leader will shape the IOC’s agenda and operational priorities for the remainder of the current mandate running to July 2028, affecting programmes that directly benefit Seychelles and the wider western Indian Ocean island community.
Minister Faure extended his congratulations to Dr Richard at the session, while underlining the scale of the responsibilities that await the incoming Secretary-General in a context marked by institutional transformation within the IOC and an evolving international landscape. Dr Richard, a Malagasy national with extensive experience at national and international institutions including the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States, where he served as Deputy Secretary-General for five years, succeeds Edgard Razafindravahy and will be tasked with steering the IOC’s regional priorities through a period of significant change. His appointment was reached by consensus at the extraordinary ministerial session.
The Indian Ocean Commission was established following the signing of the Victoria Accord in 1984 and has since grown into a recognised regional organisation that addresses issues including maritime surveillance, fisheries management, climate resilience, and economic cooperation. Seychelles has historically played an active role within the IOC framework and has hosted several major IOC-linked events, including the forthcoming East African Judges Forum 2026 scheduled to take place in Seychelles from March 21 to 25, reflecting the country’s ongoing engagement with the wider regional institutional architecture.
Minister Faure’s participation in the Council of Ministers signals the Herminie government’s continued commitment to active engagement within the IOC framework and broader Indian Ocean regional diplomacy, building on the strong institutional links that Seychelles has maintained with its island neighbours across multiple administrations. The new Secretary-General’s mandate will be closely watched by Seychelles and its fellow member states as the IOC navigates a demanding agenda over the coming two years.
The appointment of Dr Ibrahim Norbert Richard marks a new chapter for the Indian Ocean Commission, and Seychelles’ active participation in the selection process reaffirms the country’s standing as a constructive partner in regional governance.
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