In a post on the Seychelles Daily group on Facebook, Ahmed Afif, Secretary General of the Lalyans Seselwa party, alleges that “state security agents, NDEA and some select Tazar personnel have been assigned the task of planting illegal substances or weapons at the residential premises of key members of Lalyans Seselwa with the objective of ambushing them at the appropriate moment, charging them for illegal possession and keeping them under detention indefinitely”.
The Office of the President is not in the habit of responding to rumours and allegations, but the allegations made by Ahmed Afif are sufficiently grave as to warrant a formal and public rebuttal.
The allegations are spurious, without factual basis and without precedent. Their objective is to sow confusion, create instability, undermine public confidence in the rule of law, discredit the security services of the Republic of Seychelles and damage Seychelles’ reputation in the eyes of international observers ahead of the presidential election next month. Above all, Lalyans Seselwa’s allegations are malicious and politically motivated, timed to create a perception of harassment, fear and intimidation in advance of their convention on Sunday 8th November.
The Government of Seychelles is a firm advocate of the rule of law and of fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles.
Consequently, any individual, entity – including political parties – who/which feels aggrieved or has been wronged can have full and expeditious recourse to justice. In that regard, the Office of the President urges Ahmed Afif to substantiate his allegations that “according to [their] information, this operation is masterminded by State House” and present their evidence so that the police can forthwith initiate a criminal investigation in the matter.