Rotations and appointments of ambassadors of Seychelles |24 March 2017

Two new foreign missions to open

In line with President Danny Faure’s vision of providing an efficient and professional diplomatic service for the benefit of the people of Seychelles, a rotation plan as well as new appointments of the heads of Seychelles’ missions abroad have been undertaken.

The current number of Seychelles’ foreign missions will increase from 10 to 12 ‒ four in Asia, four in Europe, two in Africa and two in the Americas.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Foreign Secretary Claude Morel said Seychelles will be opening two diplomatic missions in Havana, Cuba in April and in Geneva, Switzerland in January 2018.

Foreign Secretary Morel explained that there has been a reflection for the past couple of months on how best the foreign affairs department could have professional team abroad and at home so that Seychelles can match its needs regionally and internationally.

“President Danny Faure who has the portfolio responsibility of Foreign Affairs, and in light with his own vision of proactive and pragmatic diplomacy and in line for any country to adjust itself in time in order that we have a new thrust in our diplomatic work, has decided to appoint and rotate a number of ambassadors. Rotation of ambassadors is nothing new, it happens everywhere and it is only timely that after a certain number of years ambassadors are recalled and assigned other duties. Take myself for example, I was not meant to be here today but circumstances have it that the president has appointed me in this capacity. The same applies for other appointments. In our lives we can be appointed in a country for five months and you can be somewhere else for five years. Nothing is static in diplomacy, we have to adjust with our times,” said Foreign Secretary Morel who has served as ambassador in many countries in his career as a diplomat.

He added that internally the foreign affairs department has started another reflection on what the foreign policy of Seychelles should be in April 2017 as opposed to what it was five or even 10 years ago.

“The world has changed, there are always new challenges, new opportunities and it’s up to us to tap into those opportunities. So we have to place ourselves there, be smart and see how we can use our actions, efforts on the diplomatic and international front so that we can reap the necessary benefits for the ultimate good of the country and the Seychellois nation,” he explained.

Foreign Secretary Morel said Ambassador Ronny Jumeau will be the Seychelles permanent representative to the United Nations and will also be accredited as Ambassador to the United States of America.

“We cannot have two representatives in New York as it is very costly. Ambassador Jumeau will still oversee the issues of climate change and small island developing states he has now become an expert in,” said Foreign Secretary Morel.

As for Ambassador Beryl Samson, who is currently the Chargé d’Affaires in New York, she will be recalled to headquarters and will head the Seychelles Permanent Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, in January 2018.

Ambassador Joseph Nourrice will head the new mission in Havana, Cuba in April 2017 after spending five years in Ethiopia in the Permanent Mission to the African Union and Embassy in Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

One of the reasons Seychelles will open a mission in Havana is to build on the relationship between the two countries, especially in the health sector.

And when asked why Seychelles should continue to bring in Cuban doctors when Dr Patrick Herminie, Secretary of State responsible for prevention of drug abuse and rehabilitation, said he prefers Mauritian doctors as they speak Creole, Ambassador Morel replied: “Seychelles and Cuba have had a health cooperation for more than 30 years. This has been built over the years and obviously people don’t want to break something they have nurtured. On the contrary, you would build on that. With Mauritius there is a need for a particular sector of the health domain. Dr Herminie went to Mauritius and quite brightly he explored the possibilities of having professionals to deal with the rehabilitation of drug addicts. We have to also seek where we can get the best. From what I understand the Mauritians are among the best in terms of rehabilitation from hard drugs, and we should be knocking on other doors. From what I know the first things the Cubans do when they arrive here is learn the Seychellois Creole. We are more than satisfied with the work of the Cuban doctors here.”

Meanwhile, Derrick Ally presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth in London last month as High Commissioner for Seychelles, replacing High Commissioner Marie-Pierre Lloyd following her retirement.

As for Ambassador Selby Pillay, he will continue to head the Seychelles mission in Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium. He assumed that position in March 2015.

The High Commission of Seychelles in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, is headed by High Commissioner Marie-Antoinette Rose who assumed her function in January 2017.

Ambassador Vivianne Fock-Tave will continue to head the Seychelles Embassy in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

The Permanent Mission to the African Union and Embassy in Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is to be headed by Ambassador David Pierre and he will assume office once his agrément is granted by the Ethiopian authorities.  

High Commissioner Conrad Mederic will head the Seychelles mission in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, while Philippe Le Gall will soon present his credentials as Seychelles’ High Commissioner in New Delhi, Republic of India.

Ambassador Jean-Claude Adrienne will head the Seychelles mission in the United Arab Emirates and will assume office in May 2017.

As for Ambassador Sylvestre Radegonde, has been appointed Ambassador to France and will assume office once he has obtained his agrément from the French authorities.

Ambassador Radegonde, who was Seychelles High Commissioner in England, Malaysia and Belgium, is replacing Ambassador Bernard Shamlaye who will be retiring from the diplomatic service in May 2017.

Foreign Secretary Morel noted that in order to maximise benefits to Seychelles, all of the nation’s ambassadors will be concurrently accredited to a small number of targeted jurisdictions in their proximity, defined by the importance of the multifaceted relations with Seychelles. This policy is currently being defined.