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Seychelles
Area: 455 sq.km of land scattered over 650,000 sq.km of ocean
Population: 81,541 (2006 est)
Capital city: Victoria
People: Seychellois, descended from French planters and African or Malagasy slaves, with British, Chinese, and Indian infusions.
Languages: English, French, Creole (Seselwa)
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (89%), Anglican (6%), Moslem (3%), Hindu (2%)
Currency: Seychelles Rupee
Major political parties: Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF), Seychelles National Party (SNP), Democratic Party (DP)
Head of State: President James Michel
Membership of International Groupings/ Organisations: African Union (AU), Commonwealth, International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF), Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC), Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) (observer).
GEOGRAPHYThe Seychelles comprises 115 small islands, many of them uninhabited, to the east of Kenya. The bulk of the population (88%) lives on the main island Mahe (148 sq.km), and most of the rest on Praslin (70 sq.km) and smaller La Digue about 40 km. from Mahe: all three islands are granitic. Mahe rises steeply from the sea and reaches 912 metres at its highest point. The many coraline islands are only a little above sea level: Aldabra, with its unique ecology, was designated a World Heritage site in 1982; the Vallée de Mai on Praslin is also a World Heritage site. The climate is tropical with uniformly high temperatures all year round (average 26C) and a wet season from December to March.
HISTORYThe islands were uninhabited until the 17th century. They were proclaimed a French colony in 1756 but the first French settlers did not arrive until 1770; the French ruled the islands with delegated powers from Mauritius. Both the British and the French were keenly interested in the strategic value of the islands and during the late 1790s and early 1800s Seychelles changed hands several times. Following the Napoleonic wars, Seychelles was ceded to the British in 1814 and was administered from Mauritius until 1888, when an administrator was appointed to govern from Victoria. Seychelles became a separate Crown Colony in 1903 and independent in 1976.
The campaign for independence began in 1964, and was a divisive issue until James Mancham, Chief Minister and leader of the Seychelles Democratic Party, dropped his opposition in 1974. Seychelles became a Republic within the Commonwealth in June 1976. Initially a coalition government led by President Mancham ruled the country. He was overthrown in a coup on 5 June 1977 and was replaced by Albert Rene, his former Prime Minister. President Rene ran the country as a one party state for 14 years, surviving three unsuccessful coup plots by exiled opponents involving foreign mercenaries (April 1978, November 1979 and November 1981), and a suppressed mutiny (August 1982). However stability improved during the 1980s and in December 1991, President Rene announced a surprise transition to multi-party democracy. This followed pressure for change from foreign governments and discreet contacts with exiles overseas.
POLITICSThe first Presidential and Parliamentary elections were held under the new multiparty constitution in July 1993 and were won convincingly by President Rene and his Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF). James Mancham and his Democratic Party (DP) came second in both. A second set of elections in March 1998 again resulted in a clear win for President Rene and the SPPF, but leader of the Seychelles National Party (SNP) Wavel Ramkalawan replaced James Mancham as leader of the opposition.
Albert Rene won early Presidential elections in 2001 with a reduced majority; the SPPF won parliamentary elections in December 2002 with 54% of the vote to the SNP’s 42%.
Rene won early Presidential elections called in 2001 with a reduced majority; the SPPF won the most recent parliamentary elections in December 2002 with 54% of the vote to the SNP’s 42%.
President Rene stepped down in April 2004 and handed power to the Vice President, James Michel who won the 2006 Presidential election with 54% of the vote. Parliamentary elections in May 2007 saw no change in the structure of the National Assembly: the SPPF retained its 23 seats; the SNP (in alliance with the DP) retained 11 seats.
HUMAN RIGHTSRespect for Human Rights is enshrined in the Seychelles constitution and laws and is generally respected by the authorities, although there are, for example, complaints about lengthy pre-trial detention, domestic violence, the ability of the private press to function without hindrance, the separation of the legislative, executive and judicial institutions of state, and the competence of the police force. The is one local human rights group, the Centre for Rights and Development (CEFRAD).
ECONOMYBasic economic factsGDP at market prices: US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$ 722 Million (2006 est)
GDP per head: PPP US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$ 16,652 (2004)
Annual Growth: –2.8% (2005)
Inflation: 0.2% (January 2007)
Major Industries: Tourism, tuna fishing/canning
Main Imports: Food and live animals, manufactured goods, fuel, machinery
Main Exports: Canned tuna, fish, prawns, re-exports of petroleum
Major Trading Partners: UK, France, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, Thailand, South Africa
Exchange rate: US \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$ = approx 5.6 Rupees (April 2007)
The tourist sector employs about 30% of the workforce, but the fishing industry has over the last few years become the largest foreign exchange earner with tuna canning and exports accounting for over 50% of GDP. Both industries face increasing regional competition.
For some years the main feature of the economy has been a chronic shortage of foreign exchange. In the past, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged devaluation of the Rupee and expressed concern about the wide fiscal and balance of payments deficits that have been financed, in the main, by accumulating large external debt arrears. Following the issue of a \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$200m sovereign bond in 2006, the Government of Seychelles repaid all of its debts to multi-lateral institutions, and repaid some outstanding arrears to bilateral creditors through the Paris Club. Discussions with the IMF and Paris Club are continuing.
DevelopmentSeychelles is classed as an upper middle-income country and has met many of the UN Millenium Development Goals. Literacy rates are 91% for men and 85% for women. Life expectancy at 72 years is well above the norm for Africa.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITYSeychelles follows a non-aligned foreign policy and aims to promote its reputation as a safe and secure tourist destination and a leader in environmental and conservationist matters. While it remains an active member of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) which promotes economic co-operation between neighbouring islands in the area, Seychelles has curtailed some of its role in other regional organisations for financial reasons. It withdrew from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), citing the cost of membership fees and the lack of perceived benefits, but has applied to rejoin (2006), and has temporarily lost its voting rights in the African Union because of unpaid membership dues. In January 2006, however, the decision was announced to reopen the Seychelles Embassy in Brussels in the context of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). Seychelles has subsequently accredited Ambassadors/High Commissioners to China, South Africa and Italy.
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