Office of the Ombudsman of Seychelles
Ombudsman
Summary
The Office of the Ombudsman is established by Art. 148 of the Constitution of Seychelles and governed by the Ombudsman Act 1998 (Act 12 of 1998). The Ombudsman is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority for a five-year term and may be removed only for incapacity or misbehaviour by a tribunal. The Ombudsman investigates complaints of injustice or maladministration against any government ministry, department, or statutory body — including the Seychelles Police Force and the Prisons Service — and reports findings and recommendations to the National Assembly. Recommendations are advisory; the Ombudsman cannot compel disciplinary action or conduct independent use-of-force investigations. The office has no subpoena power but may request documents and interview officials.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Executive appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | 5 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | No |
| Compel testimony | No |
| Records access | Case-by-case |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Ombudsman Act
- Citation
- Ombudsman Act 1998 (Act 12 of 1998); Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles 1993, Art. 148
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
Investigates maladministration by any government ministry, department, or statutory body including the Seychelles Police Force and Prisons Service; receives and investigates public complaints; reports to the National Assembly.