The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Seychelles of the upcoming Presidential election scheduled to take place December 16 -18.  U.S. citizens are advised to avoid political rallies and demonstrations during the election season.  This Travel Alert expires on January 15, 2016.

Numerous public rallies and high-profile political events are expected to take place leading up to the election.  These activities will lead to increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic throughout the period. 

Previous elections in Seychelles have generally been peaceful; however, even peaceful demonstrations can quickly turn violent with little or no warning.  You should avoid areas where rallies and demonstrations are taking place, and exercise caution in the vicinity of large gatherings.

Remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates.  Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.  You should also be aware that in an emergency situation, mobile phone networks can be overwhelmed with call volume, making cellular communication difficult.

For further information:

• See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Seychelles Country Specific Information.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
• The U.S. Consular Agency is located on the second floor of the Oliaji Trade Center in Victoria, Mahe.  Email usconsular@seychelles.net or call (248) 422 52 56.  The Agency is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 to 12:30.  In an after-hours emergency, please call (230) 5253-3641 for the U.S. Embassy duty officer in Port Louis or (248) 251 52 56 for the Seychelles consular agent.
• Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).