AGP Executive Report

Seychelles Tourism Spotlight: Seychelles has been named the world’s top eco-tourism destination in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Countries rankings, scoring strongly on protected areas, air quality and species richness—while also flagging challenges like carbon emissions and water stress. Air Connectivity: Aeroflot says it will keep regular flights to Seychelles during the summer season, starting July 8 with twice-weekly Moscow–Seychelles services using A350 wide-body aircraft. Media Freedom in Focus: A new bill in Seychelles is raising alarms over the independence of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), with critics warning governance and funding could be used to pressure public media. Sports & Regional Ties: Seychelles’ participation in the SSL Gold Cup qualifiers continues to make headlines, including a dramatic final-day race where Seychelles Vann Swet finished third after Mozambique was disqualified. Heritage Across the Indian Ocean: Seychelles-linked regional discussions in Mauritius focused on preserving indentured labour heritage, aiming for a shared roadmap across Indian Ocean communities. Youth & Sport Diplomacy: Seychelles’ Minister of Youth and Sport says Russia treats the republic as an equal partner, highlighting training and infrastructure cooperation.

Tourism Spotlight: U.S. News & World Report has named Seychelles the world’s top eco-tourism destination for 2026, citing strengths in protected areas, air quality and species richness—while also flagging carbon emissions and water stress as key gaps. Air Connectivity: Aeroflot says it will keep regular flights to Seychelles over the summer, starting July 8 with A350 wide-body aircraft, twice weekly between Moscow and Seychelles. Ocean Conservation: A new report highlights how Africa’s ocean protection push is gaining momentum, with Seychelles already protecting over 30% of its waters through marine-focused financing tools. Local Media Governance: A new bill is raising alarms over the independence of Seychelles’ public broadcaster SBC, with critics warning funding and control could be used to pressure the service. Heritage & Culture: A regional workshop in Mauritius focused on preserving indentured labour heritage across the Indian Ocean, linking communities and shared histories. Sports & Community: Seychelles’ Golden Jubilee celebrations continue to draw attention as regional and international partners highlight youth, sport and cultural ties.

SBC Independence Under Threat: A new bill in Seychelles is raising alarms over the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation’s independence, with critics pointing to governance and funding controls that could pressure public media. Seychelles-Russia Sports Ties: Youth and Sport Minister Kalsey Belle says Russia treats Seychelles as an equal partner, highlighting athlete and coach training links plus Russian support for local sports infrastructure. Tourism & Travel Policy: Taiwan’s legislature unanimously condemned Beijing’s alleged pressure that led Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to withdraw flight clearances for President Lai’s Eswatini trip. Ocean & Fisheries: A World Ocean Day piece says tuna recovery is driven by quotas, enforcement and stock assessments—useful lessons for Seychelles’ own marine management. Local Business/Tech: Seychelles-based MEXC integrated with TradingView, letting users trade crypto directly from charts. Hospitality: STORY Hospitality says its guests can access GHA DISCOVERY loyalty benefits across 1,000+ hotels worldwide. Regional Heritage: Mauritius hosted a workshop to strengthen indentured labour heritage preservation across the Indian Ocean.

Seychelles–Russia Ties: Youth and Sport Minister Kalsey Belle says Russia has “never” treated Seychelles as anything less than an equal partner, citing decades of cooperation in sport training, education and youth policy, plus Russian investment in local infrastructure. Media Independence: A new bill on SBC independence is raising alarms over governance and funding controls that could weaken the public broadcaster’s autonomy. Regional Heritage: Seychelles-linked experts joined a Mauritius workshop to strengthen preservation and promotion of indentured labour heritage across the Indian Ocean, with UNESCO and heritage bodies backing a regional roadmap. Tourism & Travel Policy: Sweden is pushing the EU to tighten Russian tourist visa rules, while a separate report notes Sri Lanka’s visa-fee waiver for 40 countries—Seychelles included—leaves Bangladesh out. Aviation Safety & Standards: Seychelles participated in an ICAO regional workshop on aircraft and pavement classification ratings, aimed at harmonising runway standards across SADC. Finance & Trade: Afreximbank named Peter Adeshola Olowononi as Southern Africa director, covering Seychelles, and Mauritius Commercial Bank pledged $1bn for African trade finance.

SBC Independence Under Threat: A new Seychelles bill is raising alarms over the funding and governance of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, with critics warning it could be used to pressure the public broadcaster. Aviation & Regional Links: Seychelles is also mentioned in a wider diplomatic row after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar reportedly withdrew flight clearances tied to Taiwan President Lai’s Eswatini trip, prompting a unanimous Taiwan legislature resolution condemning Beijing’s pressure. Trade Finance Boost: Mauritius Commercial Bank pledged $1 billion for trade finance across Africa, aiming to strengthen letters of credit and other tools that help businesses move goods and build regional value chains. Crypto in the Seychelles Spotlight: Victoria-based MEXC says it has integrated with TradingView, letting users trade directly from charts, while Bitget launched “Anti-Scam Month” and a $1m affiliate campaign. Sports & Local Sailing: Seychelles’ SSL Gold Cup campaign faced a tough day on Lake Neuchâtel, including a key race incident involving Seychelles Vann Swet. Heritage & Culture: Seychelles-linked regional talks in Mauritius focused on preserving indentured labour heritage across the Indian Ocean.

SBC Independence Under Fire: A new Seychelles bill is drawing sharp concern from the Public Media Alliance, with critics warning it could weaken the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation’s independence through funding and spending controls. Taiwan–China Tensions: Taiwan’s legislature unanimously condemned Beijing over alleged pressure that led Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to withdraw flight clearances for President William Lai’s Eswatini trip, with lawmakers citing threats to sovereignty and aviation safety. Trade Finance Boost: Mauritius Commercial Bank pledged $1 billion to expand trade finance across Africa, aiming to strengthen letters of credit and guarantees and support intra-African trade. Afreximbank Appointment: Afreximbank named Peter Adeshola Olowononi as director of regional operations for Southern Africa, covering Seychelles among other countries. Tourism & Nature Focus: A World Tourism Network-linked debate continues over visa curbs for Russian tourists, while travel coverage highlights how destinations are tightening crowd management and putting nature protection at the centre of tourism. Digital Economy Moves: Seychelles-based crypto firms pushed updates including 24/7 payment processing and TradingView integrations, as anti-scam campaigns target rising multi-asset fraud losses.

Seychelles Media Independence: A new bill has raised alarms over the independence of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), with critics pointing to governance and funding controls that could be used to pressure the public broadcaster. Regional Aviation & Connectivity: Seychelles, along with other SADC and ICAO partners, took part in a regional workshop on Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR/PCR), aimed at strengthening harmonised standards for safer, more efficient air infrastructure. Tourism & Nature: World Environment Day coverage highlights a shift in travel toward protecting nature as a core part of destination resilience, not just “green” marketing. Crypto & Payments (Seychelles-linked): Seychelles-based exchanges and platforms pushed updates, including MEXC’s TradingView integration for direct trading, Fusion Markets extending payments to 24/7, and Bitget launching an Anti-Scam Month campaign. Sports (Seychelles in focus): SSL Gold Cup qualifiers on Lake Neuchâtel saw Seychelles sailing teams in the mix, with race-day drama shaping their chances. Middle East Travel Disruption: British Airways and Cathay Pacific delayed Dubai-bound flights amid a fragile US-Iran ceasefire, while some airlines resumed services cautiously.

SBC Independence Under Threat: A new Seychelles bill raises alarms over governance and funding controls for the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, with critics warning it could be used to pressure the public broadcaster and limit its spending discretion. Crypto Trading in Seychelles: Victoria-based MEXC has integrated with TradingView, letting users execute spot and perpetual futures trades directly from charting tools. Regional Finance Appointment: Afreximbank named Peter Adeshola Olowononi as director of Southern Africa operations, covering 13 countries including Seychelles. Trade Finance Push: Mauritius Commercial Bank pledged $1 billion to support trade finance across Africa, aiming to strengthen letters of credit and regional value chains. Environment & Tourism Angle: World Environment Day coverage spotlights a shift from “green choices” to destinations treating nature as essential infrastructure for resilient tourism. Sports—SSL Gold Cup: Seychelles’ sailing campaign on Lake Neuchâtel saw key race drama, including a restart moment where Seychelles Vann Swet pushed ahead of rivals.

Taiwan–China Tensions: Taiwan’s legislature unanimously passed a resolution condemning Beijing’s “heavy-handed” obstruction of President Lai Ching-te’s planned Eswatini trip, after flight clearances were abruptly withdrawn by Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar—allegedly under Chinese pressure. Seychelles Sports Spotlight: On Lake Neuchâtel, the SSL Gold Cup African and Oceanian Qualifiers saw Seychelles Vann Swet pushed early by Tahiti Black Pearls, while Mozambique suffered disqualifications that hurt its qualification hopes. SBC Governance Watch: The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation board raised serious concerns over a new SBC bill, warning it could weaken the public broadcaster’s independence by shifting appointment influence toward the Executive. Tourism & Tech: Global mayors in Beijing discussed “smarter travel” using AI and digital tools to boost tourism—an idea Seychelles tourism stakeholders will be watching closely. Energy Cost Warning: UNCTAD warned that Strait of Hormuz disruptions could add over US$20bn a year to oil import bills for vulnerable economies, with small island states among the most exposed.

SBC Independence Under Threat: The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation board says a newly gazetted SBC Bill could weaken the public broadcaster’s independence, warning that proposed governance changes would give the Executive greater influence over appointments. Energy Shock Watch: UNCTAD warns that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could push up oil prices and add over US$20 billion a year to the import bills of vulnerable economies, with small island states hit hardest. Regional Diplomacy & Aviation: Seychelles’ Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Blue Economy met Japan’s parliamentary vice-minister for foreign affairs during a visit, while a Seychelles-hosted ICAO regional workshop in aircraft and pavement classification standards brought together aviation regulators from across Africa. Tourism Tech Push: Global mayors in Beijing discussed “Smarter Travel, Stronger Cities,” using AI and digital tools to reshape urban tourism. Crypto Business Moves (Seychelles-linked): Bitget launched “Score Your 40%” with a US$1m prize pool, and Zoomex officially rolled out a prediction market; Whale.io also launched “The Whale Printer” staking for $WHALE. Local Sports Spotlight: Seychelles kicked off the SSL Gold Cup African and Oceanian Qualifiers on Lake Neuchâtel, with early race drama as teams fought for Road to Rio points.

SBC Independence Under Fire: The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation board says a newly gazetted SBC Bill could weaken the public broadcaster’s independence, warning that proposed governance changes may give the Executive greater influence over appointments. Domestic Tourism Push: The Seychelles Tourism Board and Inside Seychelles launched the “Rediscover Seychelles – Your Islands. Your Escape” campaign to boost local travel during the Golden Jubilee, with staycations and island experiences across Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Regional Aviation Standards: Seychelles joined a SADC/ICAO regional workshop in Eswatini on Aircraft and Pavement Classification Ratings (ACR/PCR), aiming to harmonise runway and apron standards to support trade and connectivity. Blue Economy & Diplomacy: Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI met Seychelles’ Agriculture, Fisheries and Blue Economy Minister Wallace Cosgrow during a Seychelles visit to Japan. Tourism Tech Spotlight: At a Beijing Global Mayors Dialogue, officials discussed AI-powered, tech-empowered tourism models—an idea Seychelles can watch as it modernises visitor experiences. Wildlife Breakthrough: Scientists say Seychelles’ “lost” crocodiles were identified through DNA matching, linking them to the saltwater crocodile population that disappeared around 200 years ago.

Seychelles Tourism: The Seychelles Tourism Board and Inside Seychelles have launched “Rediscover Seychelles – Your Islands. Your Escape,” urging residents to boost domestic tourism with staycations, local experiences and special offers as the country marks its Golden Jubilee. Public Broadcasting: The SBC board says a new Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation Bill could weaken the broadcaster’s independence, warning that appointment powers may shift further toward the Executive. Regional Aviation: Seychelles joined a SADC/ICAO workshop in Eswatini on new Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating standards, aimed at keeping runways and air infrastructure aligned across the region. Sports & Community: On Lake Neuchâtel, Seychelles’ SSL Gold Cup team faced early start issues but pushed into the racing mix during Day 1 and Day 2 of the Africa & Oceania qualifiers. Global Energy Watch: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz disruptions could raise oil import costs for vulnerable economies by over $20bn a year—an issue that matters for Seychelles’ import-dependent economy. Wildlife Science: Scientists say the Seychelles’ “lost” crocodiles were identified through DNA work as the westernmost saltwater crocodile population, linking the past to a wider ocean story.

Energy Shock Watch: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz disruptions could lift oil import costs for vulnerable economies by over $20B a year, hitting inflation and forcing cuts to essentials—especially for least developed countries and small island states. Seychelles Sports & Tourism: The SSL Gold Cup qualifiers kicked off on Lake Neuchâtel with Seychelles racing hard from Day 1, while the Seychelles Tourism Board launched “Rediscover Seychelles” to boost domestic staycations ahead of the Golden Jubilee. Local Governance: The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation Bill is drawing serious concern from the SBC board, with fears it could weaken the public broadcaster’s independence through executive-heavy appointment changes. Global Spotlight on Seychelles: Seychelles tops Africa’s 2026 Prosperity Index rankings, combining strong social outcomes and environmental performance with a tourism-driven economy. Science & Heritage: Scientists say the Seychelles’ long-lost crocodiles were identified through DNA matching, revealing their vanished reptiles were saltwater crocodiles from a westernmost population.

SBC Independence Under Fire: The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation board says a new SBC bill could weaken its independence, warning that proposed governance changes would give the Executive greater influence over appointments. Domestic Tourism Push: Seychelles launches “Rediscover Seychelles – Your Islands. Your Escape” to boost local staycations and experiences during Golden Jubilee celebrations. Hormuz Cost Shock for Islands: UNCTAD warns that Strait of Hormuz disruptions could drive up oil prices and hit vulnerable economies and small island states hardest, forcing tough trade-offs on essential spending. Prosperity Spotlight on Seychelles: The Atlantic Council’s 2026 Prosperity Index ranks Seychelles Africa’s top performer, citing strong health, education and environmental outcomes alongside tourism-driven incomes. Regional Justice Talks: SADC justice ministers meet in Victoria Falls with the SADC Tourism UNIVISA agreement set to feature prominently, aiming for smoother regional travel. Climate Adaptation Lesson: A report highlights how “cool roofs” can cut extreme heat exposure and improve sleep and health, with lessons relevant to island communities.

Seychelles Tourism Shake-up: The Government has reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board and appointed Vesna Rakic as CEO from May 15, aiming to strengthen tourism governance and international promotion. Regional Travel Push: Justice ministers and attorneys general from across SADC met in Victoria Falls, with the SADC Tourism UNIVISA draft on the agenda to create a unified visa for transit and tourism stays. Energy Leadership in the Region: Eskom appointed telecoms veteran Junaid Munshi as group executive for Distribution, effective June 1, with his most recent role at Cable & Wireless Seychelles. Crypto Sanctions Spotlight: The UK announced new sanctions targeting digital asset networks used to bypass restrictions on Russia, including Seychelles-based exchange HTX. Aviation Cost Pressure: The Hormuz crisis is driving up jet fuel prices, pushing airlines to raise fares and rethink routes. World Cup Trading Campaign: ZOOMEX launched a “Win a Trip to the World Cup!” campaign with a $300,000 prize pool and premium matchday hospitality experiences. Climate Adaptation Angle: A study highlights “cool roofs” that can cut indoor temperatures in heat-prone homes, improving sleep and health outcomes.

Seychelles Tourism: The Government of Seychelles has reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board and appointed Vesna Rakic as CEO, effective 15 May 2026, aiming to strengthen tourism governance and international promotion. Regional Justice & Travel: SADC justice ministers and attorneys general meet in Victoria Falls (1–5 June) with the SADC Tourism UNIVISA draft on the agenda, pushing toward a unified visa for transit and tourism stays. Energy Leadership: Eskom appointed telecoms veteran Junaid Munshi as group executive for distribution from 1 June, bringing experience from Cable & Wireless Seychelles. Crypto & Sanctions: The UK announced new sanctions targeting digital asset networks used to bypass restrictions, adding Seychelles-based exchange HTX to its list. Climate Adaptation: A study highlights “cool roofs” and reflective roof paint cutting peak temperatures in homes across Africa, improving sleep and health outcomes. Sports Promotion: ZOOMEX launched a World Cup campaign with a $300,000 prize pool and hospitality rewards for participants. Environment Science: DNA research confirms Seychelles’ lost crocodiles were western saltwater crocodiles, not a separate species.