Danny Faure

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Danny Faure

| image = Danny Faure (cropped).jpg

| office = 4th President of Seychelles

| vicepresident = Vincent Meriton

| term_start = 16 October 2016

| term_end = 26 October 2020

| predecessor = James Michel

| successor = Wavel Ramkalawan

| office1 = Vice President of Seychelles

| term_start1 = 1 July 2010

| term_end1 = 16 October 2016

| president1 = James Michel

| predecessor1 = Joseph Belmont

| successor1 = Vincent Meriton

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|5|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kilembe, Protectorate of Uganda

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = Jeanine Decommarmond
(div. 2016)
Shermin Rudie Faure{{Cite web|url=http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/6061/Seychelles+Vice+President+and+wife+divorce|title=Seychelles Vice President and wife divorce|website=www.seychellesnewsagency.com}}

| party = United Seychelles Party

| alma_mater = University of Havana

| children = 5

}}

Danny Faure (born 8 May 1962) is a Seychellois politician who served as the fourth President of Seychelles from 16 October 2016 until 26 October 2020. Previously, he served as Vice President of Seychelles from 2010 to 2016. Faure is a member of the United Seychelles Party (PP).{{cite web |author=Thande |first=George |date=16 October 2016 |title=Danny Faure sworn in as new president of Seychelles |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/r-danny-faure-sworn-in-as-new-president-of-seychelles-2016-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512040810/https://www.businessinsider.com/r-danny-faure-sworn-in-as-new-president-of-seychelles-2016-10 |archive-date=12 May 2019 |access-date=18 October 2016 |publisher=Businessinsider.com}}{{cite web| url=http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/6102/Seychelles'+new+President+Danny+Faure+sworn+in+to+office,+calls+for+unity |title=Seychelles' new President: Danny Faure sworn in to office, calls for unity | last=Uranie |access-date=18 October 2016 | date=16 October 2016 | first=Sharon | publisher=Seychelles News Agency}}

Background and education

Faure was born to Seychellois parents in the western Ugandan town of Kilembe.{{Cite web|title=Explorers Directory|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.org/find-explorers/danny-faure|website=www.nationalgeographic.org|access-date=2020-05-28}} He completed his primary and secondary education in the Seychelles. He studied at the University of Havana in Cuba,{{Cite web|title=The President - State House Seychelles {{!}} Office of the President|url=http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/the-president|access-date=2020-06-24|website=www.statehouse.gov.sc|language=en}} graduating with a degree in political science.{{Cite web|title=Danny Faure|url=https://roscongress.org/en/speakers/for-denni/biography/|website=Roscongress Building Trust|access-date=2020-05-28}}

Career

In 1985, at the age of 23, Faure started working as an assistant curriculum officer at the Seychelles education ministry. He also worked as a lecturer at both the National Youth Service and the Seychelles Polytechnic.

In 1993, following the return of multiparty democracy to the island nation, Faure became the leader of government business in the National Assembly, serving in that capacity until 1998. That year, he was appointed Minister of Education. Over the years, he has served in various ministerial capacities including youth, finance, trade and industries, public administration and information and communication technology.

In 2006, he was appointed Minister of Finance by President James Michel. During his tenure at the finance, Seychelles embarked on a series of economic reforms, recommended by the International Monetary Fund. Faure oversaw the first generation reforms, which ran from October 2008 to October 2013. Faure served as designated minister between 2004 and 2010. He became Vice President on 1 July 2010, while retaining the finance portfolio.

Presidency

President James Michel announced on 27 September 2016 that he would resign, effective on 16 October, and transfer power to Vice President Faure. The announcement coincided with the election of an opposition majority in the National Assembly. As there were four years of Michel's term remaining, it was to count as a full term for Faure.{{cite web |date=28 September 2016 |url=http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/5991/Shock%2C+sadness%2C+confusion+and+joy+Mixed+reactions+in+Seychelles+after+surprise+resignation+of+President+Michel |title=Shock, sadness, confusion and joy: Mixed reactions in Seychelles after surprise resignation of President Michel |publisher=Seychelles News Agency |author1=Sharon Uranie |author2= Patsy Athanase |author3= Salifa Magnan |author4= Madiha Philo |access-date=18 October 2016}} Faure was accordingly sworn in on 16 October 2016.

On 14 April 2019, Faure visited a British research submersible and made a speech from underwater, pleading for stronger protections for the world's oceans.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/14/world/africa/seychelles-president-underwater-speech.html|title=Seychelles President Makes Underwater Plea to Protect World's Seas|last=Magra|first=Iliana|date=2019-04-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-07|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news |date=14 April 2019 |title=Seychelles president's underwater speech: Protect our oceans |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/seychelles-presidents-underwater-speech-protect-oceans-62388316 |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |access-date=14 April 2019}}

On 13 June 2019, Faure was awarded the National Geographic Society’s prestigious ‘Planetary and Leadership Award’ at a National Geographic Awards Ceremony, at George Washington University, in Washington DC.{{Cite news|url=http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/11138/Feted+in+Washington%2C+Presidents+of+Seychelles+--+Faure+and+Michel+--+honoured+by+National+Geographic+Society+for+planetary+leadership|title=Feted in Washington, Presidents of Seychelles -- Faure and Michel -- honoured by National Geographic Society for planetary leadership|last=Magra|first=Iliana|date=2019-06-13|work=Seychelles News Agency|access-date=2019-06-13|language=en-US}}{{cite news |date=13 June 2019 |title=President Faure accepts Leadership Award from the National Geographic society |url=http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/news.php?news_id=4468 |publisher=Seychelles StateHouse News |agency=Associated Press |access-date=13 June 2019}}

In October 2020, Faure lost the presidential election, meaning opposition candidate Wavel Ramkalawan succeeded him as President of the Republic of Seychelles. {{Cite web |title=Seychelles opposition candidate wins presidential election |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/25/seychelles-opposition-candidate-wins-presidential-election |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

Personal life

He is the father of four daughters and one son.{{cite web|url=http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/news.php?news_id=3137|title=News - Press Room - State House - Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles|website=www.statehouse.gov.sc|access-date=16 November 2017}}

He married Shermin Rudie Bastienne on 4 April 2021.{{Cite web|title=Former president of Seychelles marries overseas, news report says|url=http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/14635/Former+president+of+Seychelles+marries+overseas%2C+news+report+says|access-date=2021-04-08|website=www.seychellesnewsagency.com}}