Island Ink

BLOOD BEHIND BARS: THE PRISON INQUIRY THAT EXPOSED A CRISIS OF HUMANITY

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The Commission of Inquiry into the December 2024 Montagne Posée prison riot is exposing something far darker than a breakdown of order inside a prison. It is forcing the nation to confront painful questions about humanity, accountability, and the abuse of State power.
A prisoner, regardless of his crime, becomes the responsibility of the State. Once freedom is taken away, the State assumes full responsibility for that person’s safety, dignity, medical care, and life itself. That responsibility ultimately falls under the authority of the State and every institution entrusted with safeguarding the rights and security of citizens, no matter who they are or what they are accused of.
Yet the testimonies now emerging before the inquiry paint scenes that sound more like military retaliation than lawful prison control. Witnesses have described unarmed inmates being shot with live ammunition, beaten after being wounded, forced to walk while injured, and left waiting for treatment like animals awaiting slaughter. Listening to the statements of inmates has been heartbreaking.
The deeper the inquiry goes, the more this screams of a targeted affair — an operation driven by motives and decisions that the country now deserves answers for.
And where were the institutions meant to defend human dignity?
The Seychelles Human Rights Commission should hang its head in shame for what many see as silence and inaction while these allegations continued to surface. The Ombudsman’s office also cannot escape scrutiny. Oversight institutions that fail to act during alleged abuse stop being protectors of justice and become spectators to it.
Even more disturbing is the role of the international human rights representatives who visited Seychelles in 2025. If concerns were identified yet never meaningfully raised before the international community, then serious questions must also be asked about the purpose and effectiveness of that mission.
This inquiry is now reopening fears many Seychellois quietly carried — fears of victimisation, selective justice, and the dangerous abuse of authority behind closed doors. What makes the situation even more painful for many citizens is the sense of betrayal. The same leadership that came to power promising accountability and moral governance now faces allegations tied to one of the most disturbing institutional episodes in recent national history.
This inquiry cannot become another report buried in silence.
Because if even part of these testimonies proves true, then the country is not simply dealing with a prison riot. It is confronting a grave failure across every State institution entrusted with the duty to protect the life, dignity, and fundamental rights of its citizens — even those behind prison walls. This was but an example of the LDS governance, power carries responsibility and has a long memory.

There is no match to experience.
One cannot undermine the importance or compete with it.

*The Price of Accountability*

A new government inherits more than power—it inherits consequences.
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Today, instead of moving at full speed into governance, the nation finds itself pulled into a web of investigations: the arms case, the Assumption Island lease, the prison riot inquiry, the sale of Nouvobanq shares, the CCCL blast, the cold store over-expenditure, the West Coast Road expense, and the accountability surrounding the 22kg gold bars. Each file opened is not just an inquiry—it is a reflection of decisions made between 2020 and 2025 that now demand answers.

This is the difficult reality of transition. A fledgling government, already operating in survival mode due to the impact of the Middle East conflict on our economy, must now carry a dual burden—stabilising the present while confronting the past.

There is a cost to this. Time, energy, and focus that should be driving development are instead directed into uncovering truth. But this is not a diversion—it is the foundation of good governance.

Because governance without accountability is permission for repetition.

Public funds, public trust, and public welfare are not negotiable. They belong to the people. And when questions arise—on contracts, expenditures, or human rights—those questions must be pursued relentlessly, regardless of timing or political discomfort.

And the people must recognise their power in all of this. The ballot is not just a vote—it is a mandate. It is through that mandate, exercised prudently, that the nation has this moment of respite and the opportunity to demand accountability.

What we are witnessing is not just a series of investigations. It is a national correction.

A clear message to any government—past, present, or future: you do not operate in a vacuum. Every decision carries weight. Every action leaves a trail. And every misuse of power will, eventually, be called to account.

Accountability is not a distraction from governance—it is governance.

Because a nation that has the courage to investigate today is a nation strong enough to build tomorrow.

ISLAND 🫟 INK

NOURISHMENT, THE ISLAND WAY
ISLAND 🫟 INK

🥚 The Everyday Egg: A Simple Path to Better Gut Health in Seychelles

In Seychelles, food has always been more than sustenance—it is culture, rhythm, and connection. From fresh catch at dawn to homegrown produce, the island table already holds everything needed for strong health.

⚡ Why the Egg Still Matters

Eggs are one of the most complete foods available. They are rich in protein, easy to digest when cooked gently, and naturally satisfying.

But their real strength comes from what you eat them with.

The island already offers what the gut needs—fiber from roots and greens, healthy fats from coconut and avocado, and natural digestive boosters like lime and satini.

When combined properly, a simple egg becomes a foundation for daily wellness.

🌿 The Island Balance Formula

A gut-friendly meal doesn’t need to be complicated.

It comes down to balance:

Egg + Fiber + Natural Fat + Fresh Digestive Elements

This is not new. It reflects how island food has always worked—simple, fresh, and balanced.

🥑 A Clean, Light Start

Soft eggs with fresh avocado and a squeeze of lime offer gentle digestion, healthy fats, and sustained energy. A light, satisfying way to begin the day or break a fast.

🐟 A Nourishing Island Plate

Eggs paired with smoked fish and local greens such as spinach or bred mouroum bring together protein for strength, omega-rich fish, and fiber for gut support. A balanced plate rooted in island tradition.

🍠 A Sustaining Meal

Eggs with sweet potato and a touch of coconut oil support digestion, provide lasting fullness, and maintain steady energy. Ideal for those looking to feel lighter while staying nourished.

🌶️ A Fresh, Digestive Boost

Eggs served with satini—pawpaw, bilimbi, lime, and chili—stimulate digestion, add freshness, and enhance the meal naturally.

🍌 A Gentle, Traditional Comfort

Eggs with boiled plantain and light coconut milk create a familiar, comforting combination that is easy on the stomach, provides natural energy, and reflects traditional island cooking.

🎯 Small Adjustments, Big Results

Improving how we feel does not require major change—just small adjustments in preparation and pairing.

Cooking eggs gently rather than overcooking, using fresh oils like coconut or olive instead of reheated oils, and adding natural sides instead of relying only on refined starches all make a difference.

These shifts respect both tradition and health.

For years, eggs were unfairly blamed—mainly because of cholesterol. The idea was simple: eggs contain cholesterol, so they must raise cholesterol in the body.

Modern research has shown that for most people, dietary cholesterol from eggs has little to no impact on blood cholesterol levels. The real culprits are highly processed foods, excess sugar, and unhealthy fats—not whole foods like eggs.

In fact, eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat:

High-quality, complete protein
Rich in vitamins like B12, D, and choline (essential for brain function)
Naturally satisfying, helping control appetite

Rather than being harmful, eggs can actually support heart health by increasing “good” HDL cholesterol and improving overall nutrient intake.

The truth is simple:
Eggs didn’t deserve the bad reputation—they were just caught in outdated science.

Like most things in life, the issue isn’t the egg.
It’s what surrounds it—processed foods, poor cooking methods, and imbalance.

Handled right, the egg is not the problem.
It’s one of the most reliable solutions.

ISLAND 🫟 INK MKB

Rights for Me, Not for Thee: The Constitution in Selective Use by the LDS.
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Somewhere in the Constitution of Seychelles lies a clear promise — that liberty matters, that a person is innocent until proven guilty, and that justice should be delivered within a reasonable time. Yet since November 2021, in Seychelles under the LDS government, what should have been a process of law has, for some, felt more like a process of waiting. Years pass, four to be precise and the line between procedure and punishment begins to blur. Remand, meant to secure attendance in court, starts to resemble a sentence served in advance — quietly shifting the burden from proving guilt to enduring time.
As delays stretch and decisions fluctuate, the presumption of innocence becomes more symbolic than real. Equality before the law begins to look uneven, and the system itself appears to move in phases — progressing, pausing, recalibrating — as though finding its footing along the way. Meanwhile, life outside continues uninterrupted, while those within the system measure time not by days, but by uncertainty. The Constitution remains intact, but its protections feel distant when they are not just consistently applied but silently denied.
At the Assomption Inquiry, Vice President Ahmed Afif stood firmly on his constitutional rights, choosing to speak in Creole and avoiding giving a statement — a clear, deliberate use of the protections available to him. Yet during his tenure as Vice President, when prolonged detentions, delays, and clear human rights violation concerns were unfolding under his government, those same constitutional protections were not upheld with the same conviction. The contrast is not subtle — it is direct. The Constitution was not absent; it was ignored.
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War, Power and the Reassertion of the Dollar
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For several years the global narrative suggested that the world was gradually moving away from the dominance of the United States. The US dollar was said to be weakening, China was rising rapidly as an economic power, and the BRICS countries were openly discussing alternatives to the dollar-based financial system. At the same time, central banks around the world were increasing their purchases of Gold, fuelling speculation that the global monetary order might be entering a new phase.

The current war has abruptly changed that perception.

By projecting overwhelming military capability and maintaining control over key security alliances and energy corridors, the United States has reminded the world that the global financial system ultimately rests on power as much as economics. In moments of geopolitical instability, capital still flows toward the dollar and the American financial system.

This has had several immediate consequences. Confidence in the dollar has strengthened as investors once again seek stability in U.S. assets. The idea that China could rapidly replace the United States as the central financial power has been pushed further into the future. Plans by the BRICS bloc to construct an alternative reserve system now appear far more complex than originally imagined. Meanwhile, gold continues to function as a hedge, but not as a practical replacement for a global transaction currency.

In short, the war has served as a reminder that American supremacy remains deeply embedded in the structures that govern global finance, security and trade.

What This Means for Seychelles

For Seychelles, these developments carry both risks and opportunities. The country sits in the heart of the Indian Ocean maritime corridor linking Africa, the Middle East and Asia. As global tensions increase and trade routes become strategically sensitive, the importance of this region will grow.

Greater attention from major powers may bring opportunities for cooperation in maritime security, ocean governance and logistics. At the same time, wars affecting energy supply chains could raise fuel costs and inflation for island economies that depend heavily on imports.

The strategic lesson is clear: in a world where power, trade and finance remain closely linked, small states located along key maritime routes must position themselves wisely. Geography may be Seychelles’ greatest asset in an increasingly competitive global landscape.