On June 4-5, 1977, sixty supporters of the SPUP who had
been
training in Tanzania staged a coup and overthrew Mancham
while he
was in London. René, who denied knowing of the plan, was
then
sworn in as president and formed a new government.
A year later, the SPUP combined with several smaller
parties
and redesignated itself the Seychelles People's
Progressive Front
(SPPF), or simply the Front. A new constitution adopted in
1979
stipulated that the SPPF be the sole recognized party. The
constitution provided for a strong executive headed by the
president and a legislature of twenty-three elected and
two
appointed members.
In the first election, held in June 1979, René was the
single
candidate for president. He won with 98 percent of the
vote. The
results were viewed as a popular endorsement of the
socialist
policies pursued by the government in the two years
following the
coup. The SPPF proceeded with its program to set minimum
wage
levels, raise government salaries, improve housing and
health
facilities, broaden educational opportunities, increase
social
security coverage, and generate employment in agriculture
and
fisheries. The lives of most Seychellois were enhanced,
and most
citizens appeared to favor the government's policies.
The decision to turn the nation into a one-party state
based
on socialist ideology, as well as certain initiatives of
the
government, caused some bitterness, especially among the
upper
and middle classes. Censorship of the media and control
over
public expression were unpopular. A number of groups
attempted to
oust the René government between 1978 and 1987. The most
notable
was a group of mercenaries who tried to enter the country
in 1981
disguised as tourists from South Africa. The mercenaries
were
exposed as they came through customs at the international
airport
but most of them, including their leader, Colonel Michael
"Mad
Mike" Hoare, escaped after commandeering an Air India
passenger
plane to South Africa. Although the South African
government
prosecuted and jailed some of the mercenaries for air
hijacking,
Hoare testified that South African military and
intelligence
officials were involved in the coup attempt. During this
period,
the Seychelles government received support from Tanzania,
which
deployed troops to the islands to strengthen the
government's
hand.
Mancham and other exiled opposition figures based
principally
in London formed several groups that sought to turn
international
opinion against the René government, stigmatizing it as
antidemocratic, procommunist, and pro-Soviet. As part of
its
efforts to stifle opposition, the government embarked on a
campaign in 1987 to acquire parcels of land owned by
dissident
Seychellois living abroad. The takeovers were not subject
to
legal challenge, but the amount of compensation--in the
form of
bonds payable over twenty years--could be appealed in
court. The
government's authoritarianism finally brought it under
growing
pressure from its chief patrons--Britain and France.
Finally, in
1991 René and the SPPF consented to liberalize the
political
system, inviting opposition leaders to return to
Seychelles and
help rewrite the constitution to permit multiparty
politics.
|
Background | | A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James MICHEL took over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term.
|
|
Location | | archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
|
|
Area(sq km) | | total: 455 sq km
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
|
|
Geographic coordinates | | 4 35 S, 55 40 E
|
|
Land boundaries(km) | | 0 km
|
|
Coastline(km) | | 491 km
|
|
Climate | | tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
|
|
Elevation extremes(m) | | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
|
|
Natural resources | | fish, copra, cinnamon trees
|
|
Land use(%) | | arable land: 2.17%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 84.79% (2005)
|
|
Irrigated land(sq km) | | NA
|
|
Natural hazards | | lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible
|
|
Environment - current issues | | water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
|
|
Environment - international agreements | | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
|
Geography - note | | 41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands
|
|
Population | | 87,476 (July 2009 est.)
|
|
Age structure(%) | | 0-14 years: 22.8% (male 10,201/female 9,732)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 31,870/female 29,439)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 2,321/female 3,913) (2009 est.)
|
|
Median age(years) | | total: 31.4 years
male: 30.9 years
female: 32 years (2009 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate(%) | | 0.999% (2009 est.)
|
|
Birth rate(births/1,000 population) | | 15.87 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
|
|
Death rate(deaths/1,000 population) | | 6.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
|
|
Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population) | | 1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
|
|
Urbanization(%) | | urban population: 54% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
|
|
Sex ratio(male(s)/female) | | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births) | | total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
|
|
Life expectancy at birth(years) | | total population: 73.02 years
male: 68.33 years
female: 77.85 years (2009 est.)
|
|
Total fertility rate(children born/woman) | | 1.93 children born/woman (2009 est.)
|
|
Nationality | | noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
|
|
Ethnic groups(%) | | mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
|
|
Religions(%) | | Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)
|
|
Languages(%) | | Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)
|
|
Country name | | conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
local long form: Republic of Seychelles
local short form: Seychelles
|
|
Government type | | republic
|
|
Capital | | name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
|
|
Administrative divisions | | 23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka
|
|
Constitution | | 18-Jun-93
|
|
Legal system | | based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
|
Suffrage | | 17 years of age; universal
|
|
Executive branch | | chief of state: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held 28-30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent of vote - James MICHEL 53.73%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.71%, Philippe BOULLE 0.56%; note - this was the first election in which President James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in as president after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in April 2004
|
|
Legislative branch | | unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats; 25 members elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 10-12 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
|
|
Judicial branch | | Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president
|
|
Political pressure groups and leaders | | Roman Catholic Church
other: trade unions
|
|
International organization participation | | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
|
|
Flag description | | five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
|
|
Economy - overview | | Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the upper-middle income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. GDP grew about 7-8% per year in 2006-07, driven by tourism and a boom in tourism-related construction. The Seychelles rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007. Despite these actions, the Seychelles economy has struggled to maintain its gains and in 2008 suffered from food and oil price shocks, a foreign exchange shortage, high inflation and large financing gaps, with GDP growth reduced to about 3% in 2008. In July 2008 the government defaulted on a Euro amortizing note worth roughly US$80 million, leading to a downgrading of Seychelles credit rating. Seychelles requested an IMF Stand-By Agreement in December 2008.
|
|
GDP (purchasing power parity) | | $1.821 billion (2008 est.)
$1.838 billion (2007 est.)
$1.675 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
|
|
GDP (official exchange rate) | | $822 million (2008 est.)
|
|
GDP - real growth rate(%) | | -0.9% (2008 est.)
9.7% (2007 est.)
9.3% (2006 est.)
|
|
GDP - per capita (PPP) | | $21,000 (2008 est.)
$21,400 (2007 est.)
$19,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
|
|
GDP - composition by sector(%) | | agriculture: 2%
industry: 28.9%
services: 69.2% (2008 est.)
|
|
Labor force | | 39,560 (2006)
|
|
Labor force - by occupation(%) | | agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2006)
|
|
Unemployment rate(%) | | 2% (2006 est.)
|
|
Population below poverty line(%) | | NA%
|
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share(%) | | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
|
|
Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP) | | 13.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
|
|
Budget | | revenues: $260.5 million
expenditures: $291.2 million (2008 est.)
|
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%) | | 37% (2008 est.)
5.3% (2007 est.)
|
|
Stock of money | | $164.8 million (31 December 2008)
$330.8 million (31 December 2007)
|
|
Stock of quasi money | | $188.5 million (31 December 2008)
$249 million (31 December 2007)
|
|
Stock of domestic credit | | $375.6 million (31 December 2008)
$660.2 million (31 December 2007)
|
|
Market value of publicly traded shares | | $NA
|
|
Economic aid - recipient | | $18.81 million (2005)
|
|
Public debt(% of GDP) | | 74.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
122.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
|
|
Agriculture - products | | coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; poultry; tuna
|
|
Industries | | fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
|
|
Industrial production growth rate(%) | | 2% (2008 est.)
|
|
Current account balance | | -$430 million (2008 est.)
-$274.8 million (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports | | $495 million (2008 est.)
$391.7 million (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports - commodities(%) | | canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)
|
|
Exports - partners(%) | | UK 21.1%, France 19.1%, Mauritius 10.1%, Japan 7.9%, Italy 7.8%, Netherlands 6% (2008)
|
|
Imports | | $1.018 billion (2008 est.)
$804 million (2007 est.)
|
|
Imports - commodities(%) | | machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
|
|
Imports - partners(%) | | Saudi Arabia 17.5%, Singapore 12.4%, France 10.3%, Spain 8.1%, Germany 7%, India 5.4%, South Africa 4.7% (2008)
|
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | | $64 million (31 December 2008 est.)
$40.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
|
|
Debt - external | | $1.422 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$1.059 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
|
|
Exchange rates | | Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 8 (2008 est.), 6.5 (2007), 5.5 (2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5 (2004)
|
|
Currency (code) | | Seychelles rupee (SCR)
|
|
Telephones - main lines in use | | 23,200 (2008)
|
|
Telephones - mobile cellular | | 85,300 (2008)
|
|
Telephone system | | general assessment: effective system
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 130 telephones per 100 persons; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago
international: country code - 248; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
|
|
Internet country code | | .sc
|
|
Internet users | | 32,000 (2008)
|
|
Airports | | 14 (2009)
|
|
Roadways(km) | | total: 458 km
paved: 440 km
unpaved: 18 km (2003)
|
|
Ports and terminals | | Victoria
|
|
Military branches | | Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)
|
|
Military service age and obligation(years of age) | | 18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2008)
|
|
Manpower available for military service | | males age 16-49: 23,598
females age 16-49: 24,424 (2008 est.)
|
|
Manpower fit for military service | | males age 16-49: 19,702
females age 16-49: 19,780 (2009 est.)
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually | | male: 714
female: 685 (2009 est.)
|
|
Military expenditures(% of GDP) | | 2% of GDP (2006 est.)
|
|
Disputes - international | | together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)
|
|
Electricity - production(kWh) | | 250 million kWh (2007 est.)
|
|
Electricity - production by source(%) | | fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
|
|
Electricity - consumption(kWh) | | 232.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
|
|
Electricity - exports(kWh) | | 0 kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
Electricity - imports(kWh) | | 0 kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
Oil - production(bbl/day) | | 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
|
Oil - consumption(bbl/day) | | 7,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
|
Oil - exports(bbl/day) | | 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
|
|
Oil - imports(bbl/day) | | 7,653 bbl/day (2007 est.)
|
|
Oil - proved reserves(bbl) | | 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - production(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - consumption(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - exports(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008)
|
|
Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m) | | 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
|
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%) | | NA
|
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | | NA
|
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths | | NA
|
|
Literacy(%) | | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2002 census)
|
|
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years) | | total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2007)
|
|
Education expenditures(% of GDP) | | 6.5% of GDP (2006)
|
