AGP Executive Report

Aviation Connectivity: Qatar Airways is reshaping its African network, restarting four weekly flights to Seychelles from June 16, adding Kigali service, and boosting frequencies to major cities including Alexandria, Cairo, Cape Town and Dar es Salaam; it also launches three weekly flights to Port Sudan from July 2. Tourism & Tech: Global mayors meeting in Beijing discussed “Smarter Travel, Stronger Cities,” with AI and digital tools aimed at improving urban tourism experiences and new business models. Energy Cost Shock: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz disruptions could lift oil prices sharply, adding over US$20bn a year to vulnerable economies’ oil import bills—an acute risk for import-dependent small island states. Domestic Tourism Push (Seychelles): The Seychelles Tourism Board and Inside Seychelles launched “Rediscover Seychelles – Your Islands. Your Escape” to drive staycations and local experiences during the Golden Jubilee period. Regional Mobility (SADC): Justice ministers in Victoria Falls put the proposed SADC Tourism UNIVISA on the agenda, targeting a unified visa for tourism and transit across member states. Public Broadcasting Governance (Seychelles): The SBC board says a new Broadcasting Corporation bill could weaken its independence, raising concerns over executive influence in board appointments. Trade Finance (Africa): Mauritius Commercial Bank pledged US$1bn to expand trade finance across Africa, supporting letters of credit and guarantees to strengthen intra-African trade.

Tourism Push: Seychelles Tourism Board and Inside Seychelles launched the “Rediscover Seychelles – Your Islands. Your Escape” campaign, urging residents to boost domestic tourism with staycations, local experiences and special offers ahead of the Golden Jubilee. Regional Travel Reform: SADC justice ministers meeting in Victoria Falls put the proposed SADC Tourism UNIVISA at the top of the agenda, aiming for a unified visa for transit and tourism stays across member states. Public Media Governance: The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation Bill has drawn serious concerns from the SBC board, which warns it could weaken the broadcaster’s independence through changes to board appointment powers. Aviation & Trade Links: An ICAO regional awareness workshop on Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR/PCR) in Eswatini included Seychelles, stressing harmonised runway standards to support connectivity and economic growth. Energy Cost Risk: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz disruptions could raise annual oil import bills for vulnerable economies by over $20bn, with small island states and LDCs hit hardest. Cyber Security: Dutch authorities disrupted a major botnet operation that infected 17m devices, highlighting ongoing cyber risk for online economies.

Seychelles Tourism & Local Economy: The Seychelles Tourism Board and Inside Seychelles launched the “Rediscover Seychelles – Your Islands. Your Escape” campaign to boost domestic tourism during the Golden Jubilee, with staycations and local offers aimed at keeping tourism activity strong year-round. Regional Mobility & Law: SADC justice ministers and attorneys general met in Victoria Falls with the proposed SADC Tourism UNIVISA on the agenda, a unified visa plan meant to cut travel barriers and deepen tourism integration across the bloc. Public Broadcasting Governance: The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation Bill has drawn serious concerns from the SBC board, which warns the proposed appointment changes could weaken the broadcaster’s independence and increase executive influence. Aviation Standards: Seychelles joined a regional ICAO awareness workshop on Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR/PCR), focused on harmonised runway and pavement standards to support trade and connectivity. Energy Cost Risk (Global): UNCTAD warned that Strait of Hormuz disruptions could push up oil import bills for vulnerable economies by over $20bn a year, raising inflation and forcing tough spending trade-offs. Crypto & Finance (Global): A South Africa court ruling in a case involving a Seychelles-based exchange said crypto isn’t covered by existing exchange-control definitions, while regulators move to amend rules. Cybersecurity (Global): Dutch authorities disrupted a massive botnet operation that infected over 17 million devices, seizing 200 servers used to scale cyberattacks.

Energy Costs & Vulnerability: UNCTAD warns that Strait of Hormuz disruptions could lift oil import bills for 65 net-importing vulnerable economies by $20.4bn a year, with crude up 40% and gasoline up 50% since escalation—hitting LDCs and SIDS hardest and forcing trade-offs between fuel spending and public services. Seychelles Tourism Push: Seychelles Tourism Board and Inside Seychelles launch “Rediscover Seychelles – Your Islands. Your Escape” to boost domestic tourism via staycations, local experiences and offers during the Golden Jubilee period. Regional Travel Integration: SADC justice ministers meet in Victoria Falls with the proposed SADC Tourism UNIVISA on the agenda, aiming for a unified visa for transit and tourism stays across member states. Local Media Governance: The SBC board flags serious concerns over a new Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation Bill, warning it may weaken editorial and institutional independence by shifting appointment influence toward the Executive. Crypto & Finance Watch: A South Africa court ruling (linked to a Seychelles-based exchange) says crypto isn’t money or capital under exchange controls, while SARB appeals and draft rules move to close the gap. Markets & Business Signals: Seychelles ranks Africa’s most prosperous in the Atlantic Council’s 2026 Prosperity Index; Ghana is ranked 4th freest in Africa, reflecting broader governance and economic context.

Public Broadcasting Governance: Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation’s board says a new SBC bill could weaken its independence, warning that executive influence over appointments would rise under the proposed structure. Tourism Boost: Seychelles Tourism Board and Inside Seychelles launch “Rediscover Seychelles – Your Islands. Your Escape” to drive domestic staycations and support local tourism businesses during the Golden Jubilee year. Regional Travel Integration: SADC justice ministers meet in Victoria Falls with the SADC Tourism UNIVISA agreement on the agenda, aiming for a unified visa for tourism and transit across member states. Energy & Cost Pressures: UNCTAD warns that Strait of Hormuz disruptions could hit 983 million people in vulnerable economies via higher oil prices, raising living costs and straining development budgets. Aviation Shock: Jet fuel prices are surging as Hormuz tensions squeeze both crude and refined jet fuel supply, pushing airlines to raise fares and rethink routes. Crypto Court Watch: South Africa’s Standard Bank case highlights a regulatory gap after a court ruled crypto isn’t “money” under exchange-control definitions, with SARB appealing and draft rules in motion. Global Prosperity Ranking: Seychelles tops Africa in the Atlantic Council’s 2026 Prosperity Index, ranking 39th globally.

Seychelles Tourism Governance: Seychelles reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board and appointed Vesna Rakic as CEO from May 15, 2026, after the Tourism Board Bill 2026 renewed the body’s mandate to market and strengthen the sector. Regional Travel Integration: Justice ministers and attorneys general from SADC met in Victoria Falls to advance the proposed SADC Tourism UNIVISA, aiming for a unified visa process to boost tourism and cross-border movement. Crypto & Finance Watch: A South African court ruling said cryptocurrencies aren’t “money” or “capital” under exchange-control rules, after a Seychelles-based exchange received 4,400+ Bitcoin; SARB is appealing and new draft regulations are planned. UK Sanctions Push: The UK added Seychelles-based digital asset exchange HTX to its sanctions list as part of efforts to block crypto-linked routes used to evade Russia-related restrictions. Energy Leadership in the Region: Eskom appointed telecoms veteran Junaid Munshi as group executive for distribution, effective June 1, with prior experience including Cable & Wireless Seychelles. World Cup Trading Promo: ZOOMEX launched a “Win a Trip to the World Cup!” campaign with a $300,000 prize pool and hospitality rewards running May 28–June 28, 2026.

Seychelles Tourism Leadership: The Government has reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board and appointed Vesna Rakic as CEO from 15 May 2026, aiming to strengthen tourism governance, promotion and long-term competitiveness. Regional Travel Rules: SADC justice ministers and attorneys general meet in Victoria Falls (1–5 June) to push the Draft Agreement establishing a SADC Tourism UNIVISA, a unified visa for transit and tourism stays across member states. Energy Appointments: Eskom has appointed telecoms veteran Junaid Munshi as group executive for Distribution from 1 June, bringing experience from Cable & Wireless Seychelles and other regional telecom leadership roles. Crypto & Sanctions Watch: The UK announced new sanctions targeting digital asset networks used to bypass restrictions on Russia, including adding Seychelles-based exchange HTX to its list. Seychelles in the News for Drugs: Tanzania reports 28 Tanzanians arrested abroad in 2025, with Seychelles recording one arrest involving a Tanzanian national. Blue Economy Finance: India’s Sagarmala Finance Corporation plans its first “blue bond” to fund maritime and coastal infrastructure, with Seychelles cited as an example of island nations using similar debt tools. Agriculture Focus: A Seychelles agriculture piece flags food and nutrition security risks as import dependence meets climate and geopolitical shocks.

Seychelles Tourism Governance: The Government has reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board and appointed Vesna Rakic as CEO from 15 May 2026, aiming to strengthen tourism governance, promotion and long-term competitiveness. Energy Leadership in the Region: South Africa’s Eskom has appointed telecoms veteran Junaid Munshi as Group Executive for Distribution effective 1 June, with a mandate to support a stable grid and accelerate digital, customer-focused reforms after a year without rotational load shedding. Crypto Regulation Watch: South Africa’s Standard Bank and the SARB are in a legal/regulatory fight over whether crypto fits exchange-control rules after a court ruling said cryptocurrencies aren’t money or capital under existing definitions; SARB has appealed and draft regulations are being prepared. Digital Assets & Identity Platforms: Beldex launched the BNS Marketplace, letting users buy, sell and manage blockchain-based names peer-to-peer, while Bitget rolled out “Reality” for tokenised real-world assets and a new “UEX Traders’ Secret” video series. Visa Moves for Tourism and Trade: Sri Lanka introduced free 30-day tourist visas (via online ETA) for citizens of 40 countries including Oman, as part of efforts to boost arrivals and economic growth. Maritime Finance: India’s Sagarmala Finance Corporation plans the country’s first “blue bond” to fund ocean and coastal projects, targeting up to 10 billion rupees. Security & Business Risk: UK sanctions target digital-asset networks used to evade Russia-related restrictions, including Seychelles-based exchange HTX. Regional Defence Industry Linkages: India’s PRAGATI 2026 concluded with a defence equipment expo and procurement talks involving delegations including Seychelles, highlighting growing defence manufacturing and export ambitions.

Seychelles Tourism Governance: The Government has reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board and appointed Vesna Rakic as CEO from May 15, with a renewed legal mandate to market Seychelles as a sustainable destination. Energy Leadership: Eskom has appointed telecoms veteran Junaid Munshi as group executive for distribution effective June 1, bringing decades of experience including as chief commercial officer at Cable & Wireless Seychelles. Regional Defence & Trade Links: India’s PRAGATI 2026 exercise concluded in Meghalaya, featuring an indigenous defence equipment showcase and business-to-government meetings with delegations including Seychelles, as India pushes defence manufacturing and export growth. Digital Assets & Sanctions: The UK announced new sanctions targeting digital asset networks used to evade Russia-related restrictions, including Seychelles-based exchange HTX. Blockchain Naming Launch: Beldex launched the BNS Marketplace in Victoria, enabling users to buy, sell and manage blockchain-based names within the Beldex ecosystem. Environment Messaging: Israel’s ambassador Gideon Behar marked World Environment Day with a nature-led framing of climate action, stressing regeneration and ecosystem protection.

Tourism Governance Reset: Seychelles has reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board and appointed Vesna Rakić as CEO effective 15 May 2026, aiming to strengthen destination marketing and governance after five years under a centralised tourism framework. Energy Leadership Move: Eskom appointed telecoms veteran Junaid Munshi as group executive for distribution from 1 June, with his most recent role as chief commercial officer at Cable & Wireless Seychelles—an effort to protect a stable grid and support renewable integration. Maritime Finance Innovation: India’s Sagarmala Finance Corporation plans to issue the country’s first “blue bond” to fund ocean and coastal infrastructure, targeting up to 10 billion rupees and using longer-term borrowing to reduce asset-liability mismatch. Digital Trade & Mobility: Ghana launched a fully digital e-visa platform and waived visa fees for African passport holders, positioning easier access as a competitive lever for tourism and trade under AfCFTA. Sanctions & Crypto Compliance: The UK announced new sanctions targeting digital asset networks used to evade restrictions, adding Seychelles-based exchange HTX to its list. Cybersecurity Alert: Researchers report a global JavaScript malware operation using bulletproof hosting providers GHOSTYNETWORKS and OMEGATECH to power malspam and business email compromise.

Tourism Governance: Seychelles reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board and appointed Vesna Rakic as CEO effective 15 May 2026, aiming to strengthen governance and destination marketing after five years under a centralised tourism framework. Energy Leadership: Eskom appointed telecoms veteran Junaid Munshi as group executive for distribution from 1 June, drawing on his commercial leadership experience including Cable & Wireless Seychelles. Maritime Finance: India’s Sagarmala Finance Corporation plans to launch the country’s first “blue bond” to fund ocean and coastal infrastructure, targeting up to 10 billion rupees. Legal/Arbitration: The US D.C. Circuit ordered a rethink of a Seychellois telecom firm’s bid to enforce a $21m arbitral award against Guinea, saying the sovereign immunity analysis was too narrow. Cybersecurity: Reports say Seychelles-linked hosting provider OMEGATECH was used in a global JavaScript malware and malspam operation, alongside GHOSTYNETWORKS, targeting energy and finance organisations. Climate & Resilience: A new Africa-wide humanitarian coordination platform was launched in Mahé, Seychelles, to improve crisis response as the continent faces displacement, hunger and climate-linked disasters. Regional Mobility: Congo announced visa-free entry for all Africans from 1 Jan 2027, joining a growing list of open-border policies across Africa.

Tourism Governance: Seychelles reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board and appointed Vesna Rakic as CEO from 15 May 2026, aiming to strengthen destination marketing, governance and long-term competitiveness. Energy Leadership: Eskom appointed Junaid Munshi as group executive for distribution from 1 June, bringing decades of engineering and commercial experience including prior work as chief commercial officer at Cable & Wireless Seychelles. Blue Finance: India’s Sagarmala Finance Corporation plans to issue the country’s first “blue bond” to fund maritime and coastal infrastructure, targeting up to 10 billion rupees. Digital Assets & Sanctions: The UK announced new sanctions on digital asset networks to block Russia-linked evasion, including Seychelles-based exchange HTX. Security & Cybercrime: Reports say hackers used Seychelles-linked bulletproof hosting (OMEGATECH) alongside GHOSTYNETWORKS to support large-scale JavaScript malware and business email compromise. Regional Mobility: Republic of Congo will grant visa-free access to all Africans from 1 Jan 2027, joining a growing African open-borders trend. Humanitarian Coordination: The African Union launched a new humanitarian coordination platform after a Mahé meeting, targeting better crisis response and funding mobilisation across Africa.

Tourism Governance Reset: Seychelles has reinstated the Seychelles Tourism Board, with veteran executive Vesna Rakić appointed CEO from 15 May 2026, aiming to strengthen destination marketing and competitiveness after five years under a centralized framework. Maritime & Security: Seychelles arrested eight Iranian nationals after intercepting a stateless dhow loaded with opioids and cocaine worth €20m, with the vessel and drugs destroyed at sea under updated legal disposal rules. Business Continuity: Cable & Wireless Seychelles held its inaugural Resilience Run 2026 at Roche Caïman as part of Business Continuity and Resilience Awareness Week, bringing together officials, leadership and staff. Agriculture & Food Security: A new look at the future of Seychelles agriculture highlights the push for smart farming amid rising import costs, climate pressures and global shocks. Regional Integration Watch: The Republic of Congo announced visa-free entry for all Africans from 1 Jan 2027, joining a growing list including Seychelles and others. Cyber Risk: Reports detail a JavaScript malware and malspam operation supported by bulletproof hosting networks, underscoring ongoing threats to energy and finance-linked organisations.

Seychelles Tourism Governance: The Seychelles Tourism Board has been reinstated after five years under a centralised tourism framework, with veteran tourism executive Vesna Rakić appointed CEO effective 15 May 2026—aimed at strengthening destination marketing and competitiveness. Regional Marine Policy: Monaco’s Explorations de Monaco presented its 2022 Indian Ocean mission’s final report, delivering 25 recommendations on marine ecosystem protection, sustainable fisheries, tackling human pressures, and boosting regional cooperation across Seychelles, Mauritius and the Saya de Malha Bank. Security & Trade Disruption: The Strait of Hormuz closure is forcing global jet fuel rerouting and pushing up costs, with Europe drawing supplies from the US, Nigeria and India as prices spike. Cybercrime Watch: Researchers report hackers using bulletproof hosting providers GHOSTYNETWORKS and OMEGATECH to run JavaScript malware infrastructure tied to large-scale malspam and business email compromise. SDF Drug Bust: Seychelles authorities arrested eight Iranian nationals and destroyed a stateless dhow loaded with opioids and cocaine worth €20m, intercepted with support from the French Navy. Visa Liberalisation Trend: Congo announced visa-free entry for all Africans from 1 January 2027, joining Seychelles and other regional movers toward easier intra-African travel.

Indian Ocean Marine Governance: Monaco’s Explorations de Monaco presented its 2022 Indian Ocean mission final report, delivering 25 recommendations on marine ecosystem protection, sustainable fisheries management, tackling human pressures, and boosting regional cooperation across Seychelles, Mauritius and the Saya de Malha Bank. Humanitarian Coordination: The African Union launched a new humanitarian coordination platform after a Seychelles meeting (18–19 May), aiming to tighten crisis response and improve localisation, financing and documentation as Africa faces a major funding gap. Seychelles Drug Bust: Seychelles authorities arrested eight Iranian nationals and destroyed a stateless dhow carrying opioids and cocaine worth about €20m, with the operation supported by the French Navy. Tourism & Visas in the Region: Sri Lanka introduced free on-arrival visas (with an ETA) for tourists from 40 countries, including Seychelles, while Ghana rolled out an e-visa platform and ended visa-on-arrival for African passport holders. Digital Economy & Security: Mauritius’ privacy chief warned that digital ID needs strong data protection and cybersecurity, as hackers were reported abusing hosting providers to run JavaScript malware for large-scale email compromise. Blue Economy Policy: Seychelles joined regional methane and climate action work, and the UN Tourism push for a dedicated thematic office for small island tourism economies gained momentum.

Digital Identity & Privacy: Mauritius’ Data Protection Commissioner Drudeisha Madhub warned that digital ID rollouts across Africa must treat data protection and cybersecurity as core infrastructure, not afterthoughts. Seychelles Security & Drugs: Seychelles authorities arrested eight Iranian nationals and destroyed a stateless dhow loaded with opioids and cocaine worth about €20m, with the operation supported by the French Navy. Tourism Shock & Aviation Costs: As the Iran crisis disrupts fuel flows via the Strait of Hormuz, airlines and regulators warn of higher fuel costs, rerouted flights, and tourism inflation. Visa Liberalisation Across Africa: The Republic of Congo will grant visa-free entry to all Africans from 1 Jan 2027, joining a growing list that includes Seychelles and others. Seychelles in Regional Climate Work: A Seychelles parliamentary delegation joined a Nairobi workshop on methane and climate action. Blue Economy Focus: Zanzibar hosted a blue economy research workshop aimed at inclusive, sustainable marine development. Tourism Policy in the Region: Sri Lanka introduced free on-arrival visas (with an ETA) for tourists from 40 countries, including Seychelles. Crypto Listings: MEXC and Bitget both listed Solstice Finance (SLX) for spot trading, with reward-driven launch events.