President Ramkalawan receives defence forces’ annual report |13 April 2022

Brigadier Rosette presents the report to President Ramkalawan (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

Despite the willpower, courage and determination of the men in uniform to safeguard and protect our resources within our Exclusive Economic Zone (EZZ), the work is still a huge challenge based on the available resources, in relation to the rapid increase in illegal activities within the area.

Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF) Brigadier Michael Rosette made that statement yesterday, after presenting President Wavel Ramkalawan – commander-in-chief of the defence forces – with the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) defence annual report for 2020-2021.

Brigadier Rosette was accompanied at State House by the Commandant of the Seychelles Coast Guard Colonel Jean Atala, Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Hollanda, who is the Land Force Commander and Major Rodney Zarine, the Commander of the Seychelles Air Force.

The main purpose of the annual report is to hold the force to account, and it consists of performance reports, including operations, logistics, administration, budgeting and all other relevant plans and strategies, along with details on other defence activities undertaken during the period 2020–21.

The report also features all achieved and unachieved objectives of the force during that period, along with recommendations for 2022.

Other than the Covid-19 pandemic, Brigadier Rosette explained that manpower and resources is still the main issue affecting the work of the SDF, precisely the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) which is mandated to carry out surveillance work on the EEZ.

Brigadier Rosette noted that even if the work is being carried out adequately with the limited resources, the increase in the number of illegal activities remains the main concern and challenge for the SDF.

Roland Duval