President orders inquiry into Coast Guard incident |19 September 2026
President orders inquiry into Coast Guard incident
- Expresses solidarity
President Patrick Herminie, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, has ordered the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident at sea involving three officers of the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG), one of whom has since been rescued while two remain missing.
The Commission will be constituted with a mandate to conduct a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the cause of the incident, including the circumstances leading up to it, the conduct of the operation at the time, and the adequacy of the safety protocols and procedures in place.
The Commission will further be tasked with making recommendations to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in future.
Members of the Commission will be announced in due course.
Meanwhile President Herminie has extended his “full solidarity” to the Seychelles Defence Forces and to the families of the two soldiers still missing following the tragic incident, which occurred on Wednesday during a maritime disposal operation.
“As Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, I have ordered that every available resource remain committed to the search for our two missing soldiers, and I commend the officers and personnel currently engaged in this operation, who continue to work tirelessly on the water and in the air for their colleagues despite challenging weather conditions in the search area. I assure the nation that no effort is being spared, and that the families concerned are being kept fully and directly informed as the operation progresses,” President Herminie said in a message.
“I extend my sympathy to the soldier now recovering from injuries sustained during the incident.
I call on the nation to stand united behind the Seychelles Defence Forces and behind the families of the two soldiers still missing,” he added.
President Herminie has reaffirmed his continued support for the affected officers, their families, and the wider SCG and Defence Forces, and has commended their professionalism and dedication throughout this difficult period.
Press release – Office of the President