AGP Executive Report

Conservation: A new survey estimates about 180,000 giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll, the highest count recorded and a striking sign of the species’ recovery. Sports: Seychelles’ women face a near-impossible task against Kenya after an 11-0 first-leg loss in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualifiers. The national beach soccer team also has a steep climb after losing 6-2 to Malawi in the first leg of their Afcon qualifier; the return match is set for October 17. Media and Governance: A move to give the president greater control over the public broadcaster has drawn warnings of political interference. Culture: The Creole Festival continues across Seychelles through October, showcasing local food, crafts, music and traditions.

Conservation: A new survey estimates nearly 183,000 adult and young giant tortoises on Aldabra, the highest recorded total and a striking recovery from fewer than 1,000 in the 19th century. Research: Seychelles-born Jonathan, the 194-year-old tortoise living on St Helena, is at the centre of new research into genetic traits linked to longevity; scientists caution that the findings come from one animal. Sport: Seychelles lost 6-2 to Malawi in the first leg of their beach soccer AFCON qualifier in Beau Vallon. The women’s football team also faces a steep task after an 11-0 defeat to Kenya in their Olympic qualifier, played in Nairobi because Seychelles lacks a CAF-approved stadium. Media Freedom: Critics warn that the new Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation law could weaken editorial independence by giving the president a role in appointing senior leaders and board members. Culture: The Creole Festival continues through October 31, with Saturday bazaars at Domaine de Val des Prés showcasing local food, crafts, music and traditions. Marine Protection: Western Indian Ocean countries at COP12 adopted regional plans on plastic pollution, seagrass, mangroves and critical habitats.

Beach Soccer: Seychelles lost 6-2 to Malawi in Beau Vallon, leaving a four-goal deficit ahead of the return leg on October 17. Women’s Football: The national team was thrashed 11-0 by Kenya in an Olympic qualifier; the return match is set for Monday, also in Nairobi because Seychelles lacks a CAF-approved stadium. Marine Conservation: Western Indian Ocean countries at COP12 adopted regional plans on plastic pollution, seagrass, mangroves and critical habitats, strengthening cooperation on issues affecting Seychelles’ coasts. Aldabra Tortoises: A survey estimates about 183,000 adult and young adult giant tortoises live on Aldabra, up from roughly 100,000 in the late 1990s. Public Broadcasting: Media groups warn the new Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation law could weaken editorial independence by giving the president greater influence over appointments and leaving the broadcaster dependent on parliamentary funding. Creole Culture: The month-long Creole Festival is celebrating Seychelles’ traditions, food and arts, with expanded Saturday bazaars and events marking the country’s 50th anniversary of independence.

Olympic Qualifier: Seychelles’ women face a daunting return match after Kenya beat them 11-0 in the first leg of the LA 2028 qualifiers. Both games are being played in Nairobi because Seychelles lacks a CAF-approved stadium. Aldabra Conservation: A new survey estimates about 183,000 adult and sub-adult giant tortoises on Aldabra. Researchers say the higher figure reflects improved counting and does not necessarily mean the population has nearly doubled. Longevity Research: Scientists studying Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise living on St Helena, found youthful patterns in genes linked to cellular energy production—offering clues to healthy ageing, though the study examined only one animal. Public Broadcasting: Media groups warn that the new SBC law could weaken editorial independence by giving the president a role in appointing senior leaders and board members. Ocean Protection: Research across the southwest Indian Ocean, including Seychelles waters, suggests climate change could shrink sperm-whale habitat and calls for protections that can adapt as conditions shift.

Grassroots Sport: Seychelles has unveiled 12 new karts to expand youth access to motorsport, alongside plans to send two officials for international marshal training. Beach Soccer: The men’s national team face Malawi in the first leg of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, with World Cup scorer Remy De Ketelaere among the players to watch. Olympic Qualifier: Seychelles’ women suffered an 11-0 loss to Kenya in the first leg of their Los Angeles 2028 football qualifier; the return match is Monday, also in Nairobi, as Seychelles lacks a CAF-approved stadium. Wildlife: A survey estimates nearly 183,000 Aldabra giant tortoises live on the atoll—the largest recorded population and a striking conservation recovery after numbers fell below 1,000 in the 19th century. Media Independence: Rights groups warn a new law for the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation could weaken editorial autonomy by giving the president a role in appointing its chief executive and board members. Regional Seas: Tanzania is urging Western Indian Ocean countries to strengthen cooperation and funding to tackle climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

Beach Soccer: Seychelles’ men face Malawi today in the first leg of an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, with World Cup scorer Remy De Ketelaere among the team’s key players. Aldabra Conservation: A new survey estimates nearly 183,000 adult and sub-adult giant tortoises on Aldabra, the highest recorded population and a striking recovery from fewer than 1,000 in the 19th century. Women’s Football: Kenya beat Seychelles 11-0 in the first leg of their Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualifier in Nairobi; the return match is on Monday at the same venue. Public Broadcasting: Critics warn the new Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation law could weaken editorial independence by giving the president a role in appointing senior managers and board members. Motorsport: Autosport Seychelles unveiled 12 new junior karts, backed by FIA development funding and local sponsorship, to expand grassroots opportunities. Ocean Protection: Researchers say climate change could shrink sperm whale habitat in the southwest Indian Ocean, while key long-term areas lie off Seychelles and Mauritius.

Conservation: A new survey estimates nearly 183,000 Aldabra giant tortoises live on Seychelles’ Aldabra Atoll—more than the country’s human population. The count draws on monitoring from 2018–2022; researchers say improved counting, not a sudden population surge, explains much of the rise. The species recovered from fewer than 1,000 after long-term protection, though drought, rising seas and invasive predators remain threats. Women’s Football: Seychelles lost 11-0 to Kenya in the first leg of their 2028 Olympic qualifier. The return match is set for Monday in Nairobi, where Seychelles are playing as the nominal home side because they lack a CAF-approved stadium. Beach Soccer: The national team is preparing to face Malawi in a two-leg qualifier for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, with the aggregate winner advancing to the finals in Senegal. State House: The President’s Office says requested funds are for termite treatment at the historic Gran Kaz, not renovations, citing safety concerns and the need to preserve the building.

Conservation: A new survey estimates nearly 183,000 adult and subadult Aldabra giant tortoises live on Aldabra Atoll—more than Seychelles’ human population. The five-year count is the first island-wide estimate since the late 1990s. The population fell below 1,000 in the 19th century; drought, rising seas and invasive species remain threats. On D’Arros, a shearwater colony has grown nearly tenfold after rats were eradicated. Women’s Football: Seychelles lost 11-0 to Kenya in the first leg of their 2028 Olympic qualifying tie. The return match is scheduled for October 12 in Nairobi. Tourism: A local writer urges visitors to experience Seychelles through home-cooked Creole food, music and everyday island life, not just hotels and attractions. Community & Sport: Teachers showcased classroom projects and skills at a Teachers’ Week bazaar. In the SFF Championship League, unbeaten Tigers lead with 13 points after five matches.

Conservation: Aldabra Atoll is home to a record estimated 180,000 giant tortoises, according to a survey led by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the University of Exeter. The population was stable during the 2018–22 count period, a striking conservation success. Women’s Football: Seychelles suffered an 11-0 defeat to Kenya in the first leg of their 2028 Olympic qualifying tie. The return match is set for October 12 in Nairobi. Tourism: A local perspective makes the case for visitors to experience everyday Seychellois life—from home-cooked Creole food to conversations and island traditions, not just the familiar attractions. Education: A Teachers’ Week bazaar at ICCS brought schools and professional institutions together to share projects, skills and ideas for improving learning. Football: Tigers remain unbeaten and lead the Seychelles Championship League after five matchdays, four points clear of Revengers, who have played one fewer game. Science: Researchers studying Jonathan, the nearly 194-year-old tortoise who came from Seychelles, report genetic traits that may help explain his exceptional longevity.

Science: Jonathan, the world’s oldest-known land animal, was born in Seychelles. A new genome study identified 287 gene variants linked to DNA repair, metabolism and other processes that may help explain the Aldabra giant tortoise’s estimated 194-year lifespan. Football: Seychelles face Kenya in the first leg of a 2028 Olympic women’s qualifier, while the country’s under-20 side meets Botswana in a return match after losing the first leg 2-1. Chess: Jessee Eulentin and Rachelle Hoareau earned Candidate Master titles at the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan, bringing Seychelles’ total number of female title-holders to four. Conservation: D’Arros Island’s wedge-tailed shearwater colony grew nearly tenfold after rats were eradicated, researchers report. Sailing: Seychelles hosted training for emerging African teams from Senegal, Madagascar, Tanzania and Libya, as part of a programme to build skills and national teams.

Tourism: P&O Cruises’ winter 2028–29 programme includes a Mahé call on Arcadia’s farewell world cruise. A travel writer also praised the Seychelles’ remote-island scenery after a five-night superyacht trip. Nature: The coco de mer grows naturally only on Praslin and Curieuse. On D’Arros, wedge-tailed shearwater numbers rose nearly tenfold after rats were eradicated. Sailing: The Star Sailors League has moved its emerging-nations training centre to Seychelles, bringing sailors from Senegal, Madagascar, Tanzania and Libya together to build skills and national teams. Sport: Seychelles’ under-20 football side trails Botswana 2–1 ahead of their return fixture. Regional affairs: Seychelles is an ordinary member of a southern and eastern African judicial administrators’ association. Separately, a Canadian Supreme Court appeal involving Binance concerns crypto assets held in accounts at Seychelles-headquartered Nest Services.

Stablecoin crackdown in Texas: Texas regulators fined OKX and Singapore’s Triple A Technologies a combined $115,000 for receiving and transmitting stablecoins to Texas customers without a state money-transmission licence, underscoring that even with federal GENIUS Act limits, state licensing still applies. Seychelles in regional justice: Seychelles’ judiciary will sit as an ordinary member of the Southern and Eastern Africa Judicial Administrators’ Association after Namibia’s Benhardt Kukuri took the chair in Zanzibar. Sailing in Seychelles: SSL expanded its Emerging Nations Programme and moved its training centre to Seychelles, bringing teams from Senegal, Madagascar, Tanzania and Libya together to build national squads. Seychelles youth football spotlight: Seychelles’ Young Zebras face Botswana in the reverse leg after a 2-1 first-leg lead, with coach Michael Mogaladi saying the tie is “like 0-0.” Chess milestone: Two Seychelles players, Jessee Eulentin and Rachelle Hoareau, won Candidate Master titles ahead of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. Ocean conservation legacy: A DiCaprio-backed debt-swap helped Seychelles grow protected ocean coverage to 30% by 2020, supporting marine spatial planning and long-term protection. Cybersecurity warning: New research says nearly 40,000 phishing URLs targeted US financial firms in H1 2026, with AI-driven lures and Seychelles-linked hosting mentioned as key enablers.

Mobile Money Competition: Airtel Money plans a Mastercard virtual card in Kenya to let customers pay for international e-commerce directly from their mobile wallets, moving into the same space as Safaricom’s M-Pesa GlobalPay. Public Health Warning: Bangladesh reports a measles outbreak with nearly 900 suspected deaths, highlighting how vaccination gaps and hesitancy can quickly turn into a crisis. Sailing in Seychelles: SSL expands its Emerging Nations Programme and has moved its training centre to Seychelles, bringing teams from Senegal, Madagascar, Tanzania and Libya together to build national squads. Cybersecurity: New data says AI-driven phishing attacks targeting US financial firms surged to nearly 40,000 in H1 2026, with Seychelles-linked hosting mentioned as part of the threat infrastructure. Seychelles Football: Young Zebras take a 2-1 lead into today’s reverse fixture against Seychelles, with coach Michael Mogaladi saying the squad is ready for the second leg. Ocean Conservation Milestone: Seychelles’ debt-swap deal helped expand protected ocean to 30% by 2020, supporting long-term marine conservation. Chess: Two Seychelles players, Jessee Eulentin and Rachelle Hoareau, earn Candidate Master titles ahead of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.

UN Security Council Reform: Africa’s push for permanent seats is getting broad agreement at the UN, but leaders warn that “being right” is not the same as winning action. Conservation & Seychelles: D’Arros Island’s Wedge-tailed Shearwater colony has surged nearly tenfold since rats were eradicated, with researchers counting thousands of breeding pairs. Courts & Crypto: Canada’s Supreme Court will test jurisdiction in a Binance-linked cryptocurrency fraud case involving Seychelles-based Nest Services, raising stakes for cross-border victims. Cybercrime: New research says nearly 40,000 phishing URLs hit US financial firms in H1 2026, with AI and “bulletproof” hosting helping campaigns spread fast. Climate Action Debate: UN speeches show deep splits over how quickly to cut fossil fuels and who pays for the transition. Blue Economy & Oceans: A DiCaprio-backed debt-swap helped Seychelles expand protected ocean areas to 30% by 2020, linking debt relief to long-term marine conservation. Local Sports: Au Cap United stay top in Seychelles League One after a 1-1 draw; darts champions Collin Esparon and Kerine Savy take titles.

Seychelles Marine Protection: A DiCaprio-backed debt-swap helped Seychelles expand protected ocean areas from 0.04% of its EEZ to 30% by 2020, with $21.6m restructured for long-term conservation and a marine spatial plan guiding use of the sea. Digital Economy & Governance: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah urged stronger, bankable investment in Africa’s water sector, while Seychelles President Patrick Herminie pushed for digital transformation that delivers practical jobs and opportunities, linking governance, investment and technology. Local Sports: Au Cap United stayed top of Seychelles’ SFF League One after a 1-1 draw with Mont Buxton, while Cable & Wireless darts crowned Collin Esparon and Kerine Savy as champions. Regional Football: Godfrey Oduor named a 43-player provisional squad for Kenya’s Harambee Starlets ahead of Olympic qualifiers against Seychelles, mixing new call-ups with returning experience. International Links: India thanked Seychelles for rescuing 17 fishermen after an engine failure off the islands. Travel & Access: The UK’s ETA eligibility list names only Mauritius and Seychelles among African countries, giving island travellers a simpler pre-travel option.

Ocean Conservation & Blue Economy: Tanzania is set to host COP12 to the Nairobi Convention in Dar es Salaam (Oct 6–9), aiming for joint action on marine pollution, illegal fishing, climate impacts and coastal ecosystem protection. Seychelles Marine Protection Milestone: A DiCaprio Foundation-backed debt-swap helped Seychelles expand protected ocean areas from 0.04% to 30%, with Marine Protection Areas covering 410,000 sq km by 2020. Digital Economy & Governance: Seychelles President Patrick Herminie backed stronger governance and investment links to turn Africa’s digital push into jobs and trade. Local Sports: Au Cap United stayed top in SFF League One after a 1-1 draw with Mont Buxton. Seychelles in Regional Football: Kenya’s Harambee Starlets interim coach Godfrey Oduor recalled Corazone Aquino and Jentrix Shikangwa for Olympic qualifiers against Seychelles. Rescue at Sea: India thanked Seychelles for swift help to 17 Indian fishermen after engine failure off Seychelles. Crypto & Courts (Seychelles link): A Canadian Supreme Court case involves alleged bitcoin fraud where a Seychelles-based company is named.