A tiny, almost barren island in the Indian Ocean has become a battleground in this weekend's elections in Seychelles, prompting global environmental concern.
Assumption Island, in the western Indian Ocean, possesses little at first glance that would set even the most curious and intrepid traveller's pulse racing.
Stripped almost bare and blisteringly hot, with few man-made structures, it covers an area similar to London's Heathrow Airport and is, arguably, only slightly more scenic. Yet this tropical island anomaly - both geographically remote and far from the popular ideal of lush paradise - has become a hotspot for geopolitical powers and eco-warriors, plus a political lightning rod in Seychelles, the country that owns it.
Situated 1,140km from Seychelles' most populous main island, tourist-friendly Mahé, Assumption Island is a sausage-shaped, coralline finger of low-level scrub, fringed by casuarina trees. It was ravaged for its nitrogen-rich guano and agricultural use ended decades ago. But now, Assumption Island's strategic position and ecological value is priceless.
The island lies close to this century's Silk Road – the busy commercial shipping lanes carrying manufactured goods and materials from East Asia to Africa and beyond. India was keen to build a military base on Assumption but was rebuffed.
Permanent or de facto ownership has so far been off the cards thanks to pressure from the proud Seychellois public. As the tiny republic goes to the polls, Assumption is a key electoral touchpoint. At least under my watch, there will never be a foreign military base in Seychelles, President Wavel Ramkalawan tells BBC News, on the eve of polling.
So the lease of Assumption Island, or at least part of it, to the Qatari royal family has stirred sensitivities. Via a Middle East investment company, Assets Group, the Qataris are currently building an exclusive, 40-villa luxury resort there, with an upgraded concrete airstrip capable of receiving executive jets, far from prying eyes.
Assumption has one of the longest beaches in Seychelles, which is probably one of the most important green turtle nesting beaches in our country, says conservation campaigner Lucie Harter. It's a really important place to preserve. Crucially, Assumption Island is the gateway to the Unesco-listed Aldabra atoll, just 27km to the north. One of the most pristine and fragile ecosystems in the world, Aldabra is home to 400 species found nowhere else on the planet.
Last week, two campaign groups lodged an injunction against the government to halt the project, emphasizing the need for an independent environmental impact study. Ramkalawan remains firm on the decision, citing a need for economic investment to ensure the nation's survival.
The elections this weekend, with more than 73,000 registered voters, may reveal whether public concern over Assumption Island can sway the political tide, especially amid a backdrop of economic recovery challenges and past governmental promises.
