Seychelles President James Michel narrowly wins 3rd term in office

NAIROBI, Kenya – The state-run Seychelles News Agency says President James Michel has narrowly been re-elected to a third term in office in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

The agency said Saturday that Michel won with 50.15 percent, or 31,512 of the votes. His opponent, the Seychelles National Party leader Wavel Ramkalawan, received 49.85 percent, or 31,319 of the votes. Both candidates had failed to get the more than 50 percent required to win the first round two weeks ago.

The 71-year-old Michel, the leader of the ruling Parti Lepep, or People's Party, has been in power since 2004.