Photo: Dino Sassi / Marcel Fayon via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
VICTORIA, Seychelles, The Commission of Inquiry into the Montagne Posée prison riot of 5 December 2024 heard three testimonies on Friday, including that of former Vice-President Ahmed Afif, who assumed presidential duties on the day of the incident in the absence of the then head of state.
The sitting, the third in the public hearings, examined the chain of command and the coordination between the Seychelles Police Force, the Seychelles Defence Forces, and prison authorities during the disturbance that left two inmates dead and four officers held hostage. Captain Anil Bristol of the Seychelles Defence Forces opened the day’s evidence, followed by Afif and Superintendent Ronny Julienne of the Criminal Investigation Department.
Captain Bristol, who has worked with former President Wavel Ramkalawan since the latter’s time as opposition leader in the National Assembly, moved to State House when Ramkalawan assumed office in 2020 and remained there until 2025. He is now attached to the former president’s office. He confirmed that he had never worked with a unit officially called Team Ibou, but rather with a State House outfit known as Special Ops, which was created for two purposes: acting as the Quick Response Team that accompanied the president wherever he went, and providing protection for visiting heads of state.
On the prison operation of December 2024, Bristol stated that he was abroad on the date in question and first learned of the incident through WhatsApp videos around 8.30pm. He said he did not discuss the matter with Ramkalawan that night. The following morning, he asked the former president if he was aware of the incident, and Ramkalawan confirmed that he was, though no further discussion followed. Bristol also confirmed that Colonel Michael Hollanda, then Land Force Commander, did not contact him during the events.
Asked whether he had been informed of the riot while abroad with Ramkalawan, Bristol said he had not. He said he learned on December 6 or 7 that his team had participated in the prison operation, information relayed by the officer who led them. He stated that he had never received a formal report on the operation, since he was abroad at the time.
Former Vice-President Ahmed Afif, who assumed presidential duties on 5 December 2024 in Ramkalawan’s absence, told the commission that he had no responsibility to issue security orders, although he was informed of such matters and involved in discussions, given his role as acting president. Afif said he first learned of the riot via social media. Late that afternoon, he attempted to contact the police commissioner but was unsuccessful, and he then reached out to the Chief of Defence Forces, who acknowledged the incident but lacked details. Afif instructed him to provide updates if assistance was needed, and informed Ramkalawan of the limited information available.
Afif added that he had no knowledge of whether the former president interfered in the operation. He said he attempted to contact the prison commissioner, Janet Georges, but was unable to reach her. On the morning of 6 December, he received a fuller briefing from the Chief of Defence Forces, who assured him the situation was under control. Afif noted that he was unaware of malfunctioning cameras at the prison but acknowledged the facility’s challenges and resource constraints.
Superintendent Ronny Julienne of the Seychelles Police Force, currently commanding officer of the Criminal Investigation Department, was the third witness. He held the same position at the time of the December 2024 incident and described how he was informed of the riot and instructed to initiate an investigation. He dispatched CID officers to the prison to document the incident, identify officers and inmates involved, obtain statements where possible, record events as they unfolded, and note injuries sustained by inmates for official documentation.
On December 7, he convened a briefing attended by former Commissioner of Seychelles Prison Services Janet Georges, along with prison and police officers. The meeting, chaired by Superintendent Julienne, confirmed that a riot had taken place, described the chaos at the facility, and detailed injuries and hospitalisations. When asked whether the scene where Gerry Mathiot appeared to have been killed had been secured, he admitted it had not. He explained that the situation was chaotic, lighting was inadequate due to fires, and the power supply had been disconnected.
The inquiry, established by President Patrick Herminie under the Commission of Inquiry Act and sworn in at State House on 23 March 2026, is chaired by Justice Alfred Mavedzenge, with Commissioners Melchior Vidot and Vic Tirant. Its mandate covers the facts and chronology of the events, the response of prison authorities, the police, and the military, the deaths of inmates Francis Ernesta and Jerry Mathiot, the use of force, and existing protocols for managing serious disturbances in custodial facilities. The Commission is required to submit its final report within six months of its first sitting.
Source: SN
Sources cited: Seychelles State House, “President Oversees Swearing-in of Commission of Inquiry into Montagne Posée Prison Incident” (March 2026); Seychelles News Agency, “Two Prisoners’ Deaths: Ombudsman and Seychelles Human Rights Commission Launch Joint Probe” (December 2024); Nation.sc archives, “Montagne Posée Prison Riot” (December 2024); Seychellois official statement on the work of the Commission of Inquiry (June 2026).
