Simple directory > Regional > Seychelles

Country : Seychelles Official name: Republic of Seychelles Head of State: President James Michel (appointed 14 Apr 2004) Head of government: President James Michel Ruling party: Front Progressiste du Peuple Seychellois (FPPS) (Seychelles People's Progressive Front) (since 1993; last re-elected Dec 2002) Area: 453 square km Population: 82,800 (2004) Capital: Victoria Official language: Creole, French and English Currency: Seychelle rupee (SR) = 100 cents Exchange rate: SR5.52 per US$ (Nov 2004) GDP per capita: US$7,625 (2003) GDP real growth: -5.10% (2003) Labour force: 30,900 (2003) Inflation: 7.00% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$145.00 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$170.00 million (2003)

Historical profile

The uninhabited islands were sighted by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in the early sixteenth century, but it was not until the 1770s that any attempt to settle them was made when French farmers landed and introduced cinnamon, clove and nutmeg plantations (worked by slaves).

1794 The islands were taken over by the British and administered from Mauritius.

1903 Seychelles became a separate colony.

1948 The first elections to the legislative assembly took place.

1964 The Seychelles' first political organisations were established – the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP) led by James Mancham and the Front Progressiste du Peuple Seychellois (FPPS) (Seychelles People's Progressive Front) (formerly the SPUP) of France-Albert René.

1975 The Seychelles was granted internal self-government; the SDP and the FPPS formed a coalition government under the premiership of Mancham.

1976 Became an independent republic. James Mancham became president and René became prime minister.

1977 René seized power in an armed coup and established a one-party state with the FPPS as the sole legal party.

1982 A mutiny in the army was put down by pro-government troops.

1991 René re-established a multi-party democracy.

1993 Multi-party presidential and legislative elections resulted in a landslide victory for both President René and the FPPS.

1998 Presidential and legislative elections were won by President René and the FPPS.

2001 Presidential elections resulted in a victory for President René (54.2 per cent of the vote).

2002 The FPPS won the parliamentary elections.

2004 On 14 April, President René, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1977, retired and Vice President James Michel was sworn in as president.

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