As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with national institutions, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Barry Faure, together with the Principal Secretary, Ian Madeleine, and members of the Ministry’s management team, met this morning with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Seychelles (UniSey), Joëlle Perreau, and her senior staff to discuss areas of mutual interest and opportunities for closer collaboration.
The meeting provided an overview of the University of Seychelles’ role in advancing higher education in the country, including its various faculties and the wide range of academic programmes and professional courses it offers. Discussions focused on identifying practical ways in which the Ministry and UniSey could work together to build institutional capacity, strengthen cooperation, and support the development of Seychelles’ human resources.
Several areas of potential collaboration were identified, including research in diplomacy, human resource development, and the development of customised training programmes tailored to the needs of diplomats and Ministry’s staff. The University also highlighted opportunities for Ministry personnel to pursue flexible learning through micro-credential programmes and customised modules designed to support continuous professional development.
Both parties further explored opportunities for Seychelles’ Honorary Consuls abroad to access relevant training programmes offered by UniSey, while leveraging their networks to facilitate stronger partnerships with universities and learning institutions overseas.
Discussions also covered the establishment of a joint think tank to support research, policy development, and knowledge-sharing on various issues. The proposal includes the appointment of a permanent representative from the Ministry to serve on the think tank, ensuring continued engagement and collaboration between both institutions.
Furthermore, both parties discussed the importance of encouraging more students to pursue further studies at UniSey and the role the University can play in accelerating key training initiatives in areas of high demand to better meet the needs of the labour market.
The meeting also highlighted the valuable contribution that Seychelles’ Diaspora professionals can make in supporting the development of education and training initiatives at UniSey. Minister Faure emphasised the importance of exploring opportunities to leverage the academic expertise, knowledge, and professional experience of Seychellois experts abroad to contribute to research, mentorship, and specialised training programmes, thereby promoting knowledge exchange and capacity building.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and working together to develop initiatives that will contribute to capacity building, policy innovation, and the continued development of Seychelles’ diplomatic service.
United Nation – Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO)
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)
United Nations – Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – to assist the National Liaison Officer (Terence)
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) [Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC) or Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction]
International Telecommunication Organisation (ITU)
Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA): Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA): Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) {formerly Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BTWC)}
Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA): Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW)
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office OHCHR) [incl: Secretariat to United Nations – Human Rights Council and Universal Periodic Review (UPR)]
Oversees consular cases, provides assistance to Seychellois nationals in distress abroad.
Responsible for processing applications from Diplomatic Missions and Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for access to the VIP Lounge at the Seychelles International Airport in line with relevant policies.
Additionally, she Coordinates requests for rental of protocol equipment and the sale of the Seychelles National Flag.
Before her appointment as Ambassador, Ms. Cillia Mangroo served as Executive Director in the Office of the Minister at the Ministry of Finance, National Planning, and Trade. She brings over 18 years of experience within the Ministry, with a strong focus on trade-related matters.
Ambassador Mangroo has held several senior positions throughout her career. From March 2022 to August 2025, she served as Executive Director in the Minister’s Office. Prior to that, she was Principal Secretary for Trade from March 2017 to March 2022. She also represented the Ministry internationally, serving as Trade Attaché in Brussels from 2010 to 2012, and later as Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the Seychelles Mission in Geneva in 2012.
In addition to her professional roles, Ambassador Mangroo has chaired and served on numerous national committees, panels, and government boards. She is also a published author, having contributed to Trade Multilateralism in the 21st Century with her work titled “The WTO Accession of Seychelles: Lessons from a Small Island Economy” (2017).
She holds a Master’s degree in International Trade Law from the University of Turin, Italy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Manchester, England.
Responsible for giving visibility to the Department through its website, Press Releases and social media platforms, and coordinate with Seychelles Diplomatic Missions abroad in the promotion of Seychelles Foreign Policy in their respective jurisdictions.
A vacancy exists for the position of Attorney-General in the Republic of Seychelles.