Victoria, Seychelles – 21 December 2024 – The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) successfully concluded a series of consultations in the Republic of Seychelles focused on the governance of marine resources and the Blue Economy. These consultations are part of the development of the highly anticipated Africa Governance Report 2025 (AGR 2025), which will address Natural Resource Governance in Africa. The APRM is mandated by the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government to produce the Africa Governance Report in collaboration with members of the African Governance Architecture and Platform.
The mission, led by H.E. Matthew Gowaseb, Lead Member of the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons for Seychelles, had two primary objectives: first, to develop a country case study based on consultations on marine resources governance, with a focus on Seychelles’ leadership in the Blue Economy both within Africa and globally; and second, to draft the Africa Governance Report 2025 (AGR 2025). It is expected that the draft report will be presented at the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2025.
From 16 to 20 December 2024, the APRM, in collaboration with the AGA-APSA Secretariat, AUDA-NEPAD, CODA, and various experts, conducted workshops on the AGR 2025 and engaged in a series of consultations on the state of marine resources governance and the Blue Economy in Seychelles. These discussions involved both state and non-state institutions, including the Ministry of Environment, the Maritime Special Planning Unit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, the Department of Blue Economy, the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), the Seychelles Conservation and Adaptation Trust (SeyCAT), the Blue Economy Research Institute of the University of Seychelles, Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S), UNDP Seychelles, the Parks and Gardens Authority, the Citizen Engagement Platform (CEPS), the Federation of Artisan Fishermen of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles Fishing and Boat Owners’ Association, the Association of Fish Processors & Exporters Seychelles (AFPES), the Central Common Cold Storage, and the Danny Faure Foundation.
During the mission, the APRM delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Finance, National Planning, and Trade, where they were received by M. Patrick Payet, State Minister representing Minister Naadir Hassan, the APRM Focal Point. H.E. Gowaseb took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of the mission in contributing to the completion of the AGR 2025, in anticipation of the upcoming African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2025. He noted that Seychelles, as a beacon of democracy and good governance, was an ideal host for this important step in the report’s development.
On 20 December, the consultations culminated with a courtesy meeting between the APRM delegation, led by H.E. Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, CEO of the APRM, and H.E. Mr. Danny Faure, Founder and Chairman of the Danny Faure Foundation and former President of Seychelles. Mr. Faure emphasized the importance of robust governance structures for preserving the health of the oceans and highlighted the Blue Economy as a key opportunity for improving livelihoods across Africa.
The APRM delegation departed Seychelles on 21 December with the first draft of the AGR 2025 on Natural Resource Governance in Africa, which includes preliminary findings and recommendations from the country case study of Seychelles.
