Former President Wavel Ramkalawan has raised concerns after his security detail was instructed to return their personal firearms.
In a statement issued on Monday, 12 January 2026, Mr Ramkalawan said an order from the Seychelles Defence Forces required all his bodyguards to hand back their weapons to SDF headquarters. He said the order was complied with.
Under Statutory Instrument 48 of 2018, the law entitles a former president to four security personnel at all times. However, the legislation does not state whether those officers must be armed.
Mr Ramkalawan said that, in practice, all former presidents have been assigned armed bodyguards. He said this applied during the terms of former presidents Danny Faure and James Michel.
He added that he ensured armed protection was maintained for Mr Faure after leaving office. He described this as the established interpretation of “security personnel” under the law.
Mr Ramkalawan said he viewed the latest directive as unreasonable. He said it undermined the status of his former office and raised personal concerns.
“What are they planning? An assassination attempt? Are they planning to physically harm my family and myself?” he said.
He has called on President Herminie to act reasonably. He urged respect for the treatment traditionally extended to former presidents and said authorities should not use such actions to denigrate them.