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This paper reassesses the historical connections linking Seychelles and Reunion Island from the 1770s to the 1900s. It highlights the contributions of Reunion people in the early development of Seychelles as a case of mutual self-interest cooperation rooted in history. Reunionese migrated to Seychelles during the French period, which lasted from 1770 to the 1810s. In addition to their contribution to the settlement of the then uninhabited archipelago, Reunion people introduced new crops. Despite the parceling out of these two island societies between the British and French empires in 1815, no complete interruption occurred. In the second half of the nineteenth century, Reunion's impact on Seychelles society evolved to more specialized areas. As such, the story constitutes a valuable and instructive chapter in trans-imperial and inter-colonial cooperation within the Indian Ocean. Ultimately, the promotion of this shared heritage is an asset for regional cooperation today in various ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles are at the center of industrial tuna extraction in the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO). In this paper, we show that, while a discourse of regionalism between the three islands is prominent, the possibilities of regionalism face deep challenges in relation to the tuna industry. This is due to three factors. First, local perceptions, especially amongst those working in and on the tuna industry, are in disconnection with an 'Indianoceania' vision. Second, the geopolitics between coastal states and distant water fishing nations creates various entanglements including through fishing access revenue and foreign aid. Finally, the materiality of tuna can at times create competition as countries seek to individually maximize benefits from the industry. We argue that the active reinforcement of regional identity and collaboration around this resource is necessary to sustain local benefits into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussion of Sino-Indian competition in the Indian Ocean region has focused on the two major powers, but there is scope to give more attention to the role of the island states. Using a structure-agency approach, this article assesses the agency of four Indian Ocean island states in relation to Sino-Indian competition: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles. In the context of India's and China's engagement with the island states, one can analyze the factors that either enhance or detract from the agency of those island states. These states have important economic links with both India and China without being overly dependent on either. India plays the leading security role, but China has also been developing its security links. Political consensus within an island state enhances leverage vis-à-vis the external powers, particularly in Mauritius and Seychelles; Sri Lanka and the Maldives have more conflictual politics, giving rise to greater Sino-Indian competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seychelles faces pressure to reshape its security and intelligence structure, little changed for forty years, built to address the internal security interests of its former ruler France-Albert René. His outlook persists in diluted form under his successors. Seychelles faces new external challenges. A big risk is abuse of its position as a major off-shore financial centre. But Seychelles’ archipelagic nature gives other transnational challenges similar to other Indian Ocean island states and littoral countries like Kenya. These involve maritime security, fisheries, counter-smuggling and piracy. These are compounded by growing major power naval activity in the Indian Ocean. Much of this is adversarial placing Seychelles in a strategic cockpit in which it has few assets to deploy and deficient intelligence capability to analyse. Seychelles challenge is to evolve its intelligence capabilities when time is not in its side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]