Testimony before the Commission of Inquiry into the lease and sublease of Assomption has focused attention on Friends of Aldabra. The hearing raised questions about the group’s funding, leadership and accountability.
Appearing before the commission, Victoria Duthil described Friends of Aldabra as a philanthropically funded non-governmental movement. She confirmed that its funding comes from both local and international sources.
However, Ms Duthil told the inquiry that she does not know any of the philanthropists funding the movement. She said she has never met them. She also said she has no relationship with them.
Ms Duthil said the funding supports campaign activities. These include producing T-shirts and stickers, as well as paying salaries for three or four full-time members.
She confirmed that she is paid by Friends of Aldabra, although she said the role is not full-time. When asked about other paid members, she said she was unable to name them. She told the commission that she “receives remuneration when remuneration is available, essentially”.
Questions were also raised about oversight and accountability.
When asked by Commissioner Twomey who she reports to, Ms Duthil said she reports to herself. She added that she is guided by “a wider group of Seychellois who guide our decision and all of our moves”.
No names, structure or formal decision-making process for this wider group were outlined during the hearing.
Ms Duthil also told the commission that if the government wishes to engage with Friends of Aldabra, it would do so through her.
She described herself as the movement’s campaign manager and campaign lead. She said Friends of Aldabra was established in November 2024.
On its website, Friends of Aldabra describes itself as a youth-led movement supported by a global team of advocates. It says its members come from backgrounds including science, conservation, media and advocacy, and that its goal is to protect Aldabra for future generations. On its social media pages, Facebook and Instagram, Friends of Aldabra is categorised as an environmental conservation organisation.
However, evidence presented to the commission depicts a campaign group whose funders are unidentified, whose paid staff were not named, and whose leadership and reporting structure rests with a single individual.
What remains unclear is how Friends of Aldabra is governed and held to account. Testimony to the commission did not set out any formal governance structure, board, or reporting mechanism within the organisation.
While Victoria Duthil told the inquiry that she reports to herself, she also referred to guidance from a “wider group of Seychellois”.
However, no details were provided about who makes up this group, how decisions are taken, or how authority is exercised. The hearing also did not clarify whether Friends of Aldabra has written rules, internal oversight, or financial controls to guide its operations.