''SBC LIVE | PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY-14.11.2025
Statement on the TRNUC Process and the Historical Context of the SIROP Program
(For publication under the Parliament President’s speech / TRNUC forum)
Date: 14 November 2025
Submitted by: [Your Name / SIROP Initiative]
1. Appointment of Former President Danny Faure to Oversee TRNUC Implementation
I welcome the announcement by His Excellency the President that former President Danny Faure will lead the next phase of addressing TRNUC matters.
This development has deep historical meaning.
It was during President Faure’s administration that:
the foundations of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission were established,
legislation was debated and passed,
and the SIROP plaint was formally lodged in Parliament for the first time.
For these reasons, his appointment carries both institutional continuity and moral responsibility.
2. Strategic Importance of the SIROP Program to Global History
From 1986 onward, the SIROP initiative became tied to broader international processes.
Its influence touched:
Cold War de-escalation,
economic restructuring,
refugee return movements,
regional and global diplomacy,
post-Communist transitions in Europe,
African and Indian Ocean stability.
This history is not widely understood today, but it continues to shape international relations and global security.
A proper and transparent handling of the SIROP record is therefore not only a Seychellois matter, but one of regional and global importance.
3. Risks of Historical Misunderstanding
For many years, I expressed the concern — privately and publicly — that failing to properly analyse and document SIROP’s strategic role could lead to:
systemic misinterpretations of Cold War outcomes,
poor policy decisions,
or destabilizing geopolitical misunderstandings.
The world has recently witnessed:
two near-nuclear escalations,
economic fragmentation,
rising global tension between major powers.
A complete historical record — including the SIROP dimension — can assist global institutions, courts, and governments in understanding how we reached this point.
4. Why SIROP Matters to TRNUC
The SIROP plaint is not simply a personal claim.
It involves:
displacement,
political exile,
economic loss,
and the role Seychelles played in major international alignments of the late 20th century.
It also includes legitimate civil matters:
land disputes,
unpaid work conducted under previous administrations,
and the wider impact of state decisions on individuals and communities.
Addressing this properly strengthens national healing, historical truth, and legal clarity.
5. Personal Responsibility and Global Context
After nearly 40 years of work, I no longer speak from a political position but from a sense of obligation to truth and humanity.
SIROP intersects with the lived history of many nations — the EU, AU, United States, Russia, China, India, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean region.
A truthful accounting benefits everyone:
policymakers,
younger generations,
international researchers,
and future court proceedings where applicable.
6. Next Steps
I look forward to contributing constructively to the TRNUC follow-up process under the leadership of former President Faure and the guidance of Parliament.
My hope is that Seychelles can demonstrate to the world that truth, reconciliation, and historical accuracy are possible — even in the most complex cases.
