History of Seychelles in Timeline

Seychelles, officially the Republic of Seychelles, is an archipelagic island country in the Indian Ocean, comprised of 155 islands. Its capital and largest city is Victoria. Located 1,500 kilometers east of mainland Africa, nearby island nations include Comoros, Madagascar, and Mauritius. With an estimated population of 100,600 in 2022, Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa by both land area and population.

1903: Seychelles becomes a crown colony

In 1903, Seychelles became a separate crown colony from Mauritius.

1903: Creation of the Supreme Court of Seychelles

In 1903, the Supreme Court of Seychelles was created as the highest trial court.

1910: Tombs visible at Anse Lascars

Until 1910, tombs were visible at Anse Lascars on Silhouette Island, conjectured to belong to Maldivian and Arab traders.

1944: Government Responsibility for Secondary Schools

In 1944, the government became responsible for the boys' and girls' secondary schools previously run by Catholic missions.

1959: Teacher Training College Opened

In 1959, a teacher training college opened in Seychelles, leading to an increase in locally trained teachers.

1965: Economic Report

In 1965, futurist Donald Prell prepared an economic report for the crown colony's Governor General, noting that about 33% of the working population worked at plantations, and 20% worked in the public or government sector in the 1960s.

1966: Elections held in Seychelles

Elections were held in Seychelles in 1966.

1970: Elections held in Seychelles

Elections were held in Seychelles in 1970.

1971: Opening of Seychelles International Airport

In 1971, with the opening of Seychelles International Airport, tourism became a significant industry, dividing the economy into plantations and tourism.

1972: Hotel Constructions

In 1972, a sustained spate of hotel construction occurred, which included the opening of Coral Strand Smart Choice, Vista Do Mar and Bougainville Hotel.

1976: Seychelles gains independence and joins the Commonwealth

In 1976, Seychelles gained independence from the United Kingdom as a republic and became a member of the Commonwealth.

1976: Independence from Britain

In 1976, Seychelles gained its independence from Britain.

1976: Independence from the United Kingdom

In 1976, Seychelles proclaimed independence from the United Kingdom and shifted from a largely agricultural society to a market-based diversified economy.

1976: Independence

Since Seychelles' independence in 1976, the per capita output has expanded significantly, led by the tourist sector.

June 1977: René becomes president

In June 1977, France-Albert René came to power after his supporters overthrew President James Mancham in a coup d'état.

1977: Coup aftermath

Following the coup in 1977, the president always represented the same political party.

1977: Coup d'état by France Albert René

In 1977, a coup d'état led by France Albert René ousted the first president of the republic, James Mancham.

1979: Plots to overthrow government

Between 1979 and 1983, various plots to overthrow the government of France-Albert Rene were, according to leading participants, supported by the United States, France, and South Africa.

1979: Socialist one-party state declared

In 1979, the constitution declared Seychelles a socialist one-party state.

1981: Seychelles coup d'état attempt

In 1981, Mike Hoare led a team of South African mercenaries in the Seychelles coup d'état attempt, which resulted in a gun battle at the airport and the hijacking of an Air India plane.

1981: Free Education System

Since 1981, a system of free education has been in effect in Seychelles, requiring attendance by all children in grades one to nine, beginning at age six.

1983: Plots to overthrow government

Between 1979 and 1983, various plots to overthrow the government of France-Albert Rene were, according to leading participants, supported by the United States, France, and South Africa.

1986: Coup attempt and Indian assistance

In 1986, an attempted coup led by the Seychelles Minister of Defence, Ogilvy Berlouis, caused President René to request assistance from India, resulting in the Indian Navy's frigate Vindhyagiri arriving in Port Victoria.

1990: Expiration of US military lease

In 1990, the United States' military lease in the country was set to expire.

1991: End of one-party state

In 1991, the socialist one-party state that was declared in 1979 came to an end.

1992: Failure of new constitution draft

In 1992, the first draft of a new constitution failed to receive the required 60% of voters.

1993: Ramkalawan becomes opposition MP

In 1993, Wavel Ramkalawan became an opposition MP.

1993: Approval of amended constitution

In 1993, an amended version of the constitution was approved.

1993: Introduction of multi-party system

Until 1993, René ruled as a strongman under a socialist one-party system, when he was forced to introduce a multi-party system.

1994: National Art Gallery Inauguration

In 1994, a National Art Gallery was inaugurated on the occasion of the official opening of the National Cultural Centre, which houses the National Library and National Archives.

August 1996: Closure of Indian Ocean Tracking Station

In August 1996, the Indian Ocean Tracking Station on Mahé, used by the United States' Air Force Satellite Control Network, was closed after the Seychelles government attempted to raise the rent to more than $10,000,000 per year.

1998: Ramkalawan becomes Leader of the Opposition

In 1998, Wavel Ramkalawan became the Leader of the Opposition.

1998: Coral Bleaching

In 1998, coral bleaching damaged most reefs in Seychelles, though some reefs, such as those around Silhouette Island, showed healthy recovery.

2004: René steps down

In 2004, René stepped down in favor of his vice-president, James Michel.

2005: Exploration Rights Deal

In 2005, a deal was signed with US firm Petroquest, giving it exploration rights to about 30,000 km around Constant, Topaz, Farquhar and Coëtivy islands until 2014.

2006: Michel re-elected

In 2006, James Michel was re-elected.

2008: Currency Unpegged

In 2008, the Seychellois rupee was unpegged from a basket of international currencies and allowed to float freely.

2008: Losses due to piracy in Seychelles

Piracy led to a 46% loss in local fishing, one of the country's main national resources, in 2008–2009.

September 2009: University of Seychelles Opens

The University of Seychelles, initiated in conjunction with the University of London, opened on 17 September 2009 in three locations, and offers qualifications from the University of London.

2009: People's Party renamed United Seychelles

In 2009, the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) was renamed United Seychelles (US).

2009: Losses due to piracy in Seychelles

Piracy led to a 46% loss in local fishing, one of the country's main national resources, in 2008–2009.

2010: Economic Freedom Increasing

According to the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, economic freedom has been increasing each year since 2010 in the Seychelles.

2011: Michel re-elected

In 2011, James Michel was re-elected.

2011: Ramkalawan's tenure as opposition MP ends

In 2011, Wavel Ramkalawan's tenure as opposition MP ended.

June 2012: Commitment to protect marine waters

In June 2012, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, the Seychelles government committed to protect 30% of its marine waters.

January 2013: State of emergency declared

In January 2013, Seychelles declared a state of emergency due to tropical cyclone Felleng causing torrential rain, flooding, and landslides.

2013: Index of Economic Freedom

According to the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, economic freedom has been increasing each year since 2010.

2013: Main Export Products

As of 2013, the main export products of Seychelles were processed fish (60%) and non-fillet frozen fish (22%).

2013: US mentors troops in Seychelles

In the Spring of 2013, members of the Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa mentored troops in Seychelles, along with a variety of other African nations.

September 2014: Seychelles incarceration rate

In September 2014, Seychelles had the highest incarceration rate in the world of 799 prisoners per 100,000 population.

2014: End of Exploration Rights

In 2014, the exploration rights to about 30,000 km around Constant, Topaz, Farquhar and Coëtivy islands, granted to US firm Petroquest in 2005, ended.

March 2015: Assumption Island Development

In March 2015, Seychelles allocated Assumption Island to be developed by India.

2015: GDP growth since 1976

From 1976 to 2015, Seychelles experienced a significant increase in nominal GDP, growing nearly 700%, and purchasing power parity nearly 1600%.

2015: Michel re-elected

In 2015, James Michel was re-elected.

2015: African Beach Soccer Championship

In 2015, Seychelles hosted the African Beach Soccer Championship.

September 2016: Michel to step down

On 28 September 2016, the Office of the President announced that Michel would step down effective 16 October, and that Vice President Danny Faure would complete the rest of Michel's term.

2016: Status of islands at Bancs Providence

In 2016, Bancs Providence was not a single island, but a dynamic group of islands, comprising four large and about six very small islets.

2016: Ramkalawan returns as opposition MP

In 2016, Wavel Ramkalawan returned as opposition MP.

2016: Same-Sex Sexual Activity Legalized

In 2016, same-sex sexual activity was legalized in Seychelles.

2018: Literacy Rate

According to The World Factbook, as of 2018, 95.9% of the population aged 15 and over could read and write in the Seychelles.

2018: Seychelles signs UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

In 2018, Seychelles signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2019, Seychelles ranked first globally out of 172 countries with a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 10/10.

January 2020: Corruption Perception Index Report

In January 2020, Seychelles emerged as the least corrupt country in Africa according to the Corruption Perception Index report released by Transparency International.

October 2020: National Assembly election results

In October 2020, the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) won 25 seats and US got 10 seats of the 35 seats of the National Assembly in the election of the National Assembly held on 22–24 October 2020.

October 2020: Opposition party wins election

In October 2020, the Seychellois general election marked a historic moment as the opposition party won, with Wavel Ramkalawan becoming the first president not representing United Seychelles.

October 2020: Wavel Ramkalawan elected President

On 26 October 2020, Wavel Ramkalawan was elected the fifth President of the Republic of Seychelles, marking the first time the opposition had won a presidential election.

2020: Adult Literacy Rate

By 2020, adult education classes helped raise adult literacy in Seychelles from 60% to a claimed 96%.

2020: Border Shutdown

Owing to the effects of COVID-19, Seychelles shut down its borders to international tourism in the year 2020.

March 2021: Border Reopening

On 25 March 2021, Seychelles reopened its borders to international tourists following the progression of the national vaccination programme.

2021: Moutya Added to UNESCO List

In 2021, the Moutya, a slave trade-era dance, was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

2022: Census Results

According to the 2022 census, most Seychellois are Christians: 61.3% were Roman Catholic, 5.0% were Anglican and 8.6% follow other sects of Christianity.

2022: Seychelles population estimated at 100,600

In 2022, Seychelles had an estimated population of 100,600, making it the smallest country in Africa and the least populated sovereign African country.

2022: Incarceration rate

In 2022, the incarceration rate in Seychelles was 287 per 100,000 population.

January 2023: Seychelles announces marine spatial plan completion

In January 2023, Seychelles announced the final stages of completing its marine spatial plan, aiming to become the second largest ocean area for its blue economy.

2023: Seychelles ranked as electoral democracy

According to the 2023 V-Dem Democracy indices, Seychelles is ranked as the 43rd electoral democracy worldwide and 1st in Africa.

2023: Wavel Ramkalawan as president

As of 2023, Wavel Ramkalawan is the president of Seychelles, elected by popular vote for a five-year term, who also presides over and appoints the cabinet.

May 2025: FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

In May 2025, Seychelles is scheduled to host the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

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