đź“· Photo: BBCLCD via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
VICTORIA, Seychelles — France and Seychelles are preparing to deepen cooperation across maritime security, ocean governance, climate adaptation, and cultural exchange, France’s Ambassador to Seychelles, Anne Tallineau, said in an interview marking 50 years of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Speaking ahead of the 14 July Bastille Day celebrations, for which Seychelles President Patrick Herminie has been invited as guest of honour on La Réunion, Ambassador Tallineau described 2026 as a year of particular significance for the bilateral relationship. The anniversary, she said, coincides with the 50th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence and offers both countries a chance to mark half a century of cooperation rooted in shared history, mutual respect, and a partnership that looks to the future.
On maritime security, the Ambassador confirmed that the French Armed Forces in the Southern Indian Ocean and the Seychelles Defence Forces continue to operate within a tight bilateral framework, conducting joint patrols and supporting the Seychelles Coast Guard. According to the French Embassy in Victoria, the two forces work together operationally within the regional framework of the Indian Ocean Commission and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre, and France has seconded a maritime adviser to the Seychelles Government.
Ambassador Tallineau also highlighted France’s assumption of the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Commission from Comoros on 28 June 2026. The transition, she said, opens a renewed period of regional leadership in which the priorities of Seychelles, including maritime security, natural risk management, agricultural development, and regional cooperation, will be central to France’s programme in the chair.
On climate, the Ambassador described Seychelles as a frontline state in the fight against the effects of climate change, pointing to the country’s vulnerability to exceptional heat waves and the broader threats facing small island developing states. She confirmed that France will continue to support Seychelles in its efforts to combat the effects of climate change, including through cooperation under the Paris Agreement framework and continued French participation in ocean protection initiatives.
The interview also addressed cultural and educational cooperation. Ambassador Tallineau announced the upcoming launch of a trilingual master’s degree, the Mastri programme, co-developed by the universities of Seychelles, La Réunion, and Aix-Marseille, scheduled to begin in September 2026. She noted that nearly 80% of students at the École française des Seychelles are Seychellois, an indicator of how deeply the French educational offer is woven into the country’s social fabric.
The Ambassador also confirmed the renewal of France’s cooperation with the Seychelles Tourism Academy, alongside expanded cooperation with hospitality and gastronomy establishments in La Réunion. She announced the arrival in Paris in three months of two Seychelles National Museum of History professionals, who will spend a residency acquiring new skills and strengthening future cooperation.
Reflecting on her time in Seychelles since her arrival, Ambassador Tallineau said she had been struck by the depth of the country’s cultural evolution, the warmth of its people, and the exceptional beauty of its landscapes. She described her personal discovery of Seychellois Creole, cuisine, music, and dance, including moutya, as one of the most rewarding dimensions of her posting. She concluded with a warm invitation: “Quand vous arrivez au paradis, vous risquez d’être déplus, parce qu’il ne peut pas être plus beau qu’ici.”
Sources cited: French Embassy in Victoria, “Bilateral relations”. Indian Ocean Commission. Regional Maritime Security Architecture, Regional Coordination Operations Centre. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Paris Agreement.
Source: SN
