Country	Seychelles
Capital	Victoria
Continent	Africa
Currency	Seychellois rupee(SCR)
Languages	French, English & Seychellois Creole

Locaion

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Geographic Co ordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Land Boundries

0 km

Geography - note

41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands

Population

88,340 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:196

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

Independence

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

Constitution

18 June 1993

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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held on 28-30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
Election results:President James MICHEL elected president; percent of vote - James MICHEL 53.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.7%, Philippe BOULLE 0.6%; 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; members to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held on 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 Parties and Leaders

Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]; People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party); Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Roman Catholic Church
other: trade unions

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, 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)

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Jean Ronald JUMEAU
Chancery:800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
Telephone:1] (212) 972-1785
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles

Flag description

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side; the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, green the land and natural environment

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Qatar to allow residents of Seychelles visa-free travel - Seychelles News Agency Seychelles News Agency Qatar to allow residents of Seychelles visa-free travel Seychelles News Agency (Seychelles News Agency) - Qatar is giving residents of Seychelles visas on arrival as a result of negotiations with the Seychelles Foreign Affairs Department. “Qatar is one of the many countries we have been negotiating with on the question of visas ... Seychellois arrested in possession of drugs in Madagascar - Seychelles News Agency Seychellois arrested in possession of drugs in Madagascar Seychelles News Agency The 500 grammes of heroin was discovered packed in two plastic packages. The suspect is currently in custody at the office of the Madagascar airport and surveillance police for investigation. The Seychelles' National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) told ... Seychelles again faces Madagascar in African football tourney - Seychelles News Agency Seychelles News Agency Seychelles again faces Madagascar in African football tourney Seychelles News Agency (Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles' national football team will be playing its opening match in the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) cup competition on Monday against Madagascar. The match starts at 9.30 p.m. Seychelles' ... Seychelles' capital city 2nd most expensive in Africa for expats - Seychelles News Agency Seychelles News Agency Seychelles' capital city 2nd most expensive in Africa for expats Seychelles News Agency Angola, the capital of Luanda, was ranked 1st in Africa followed by Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, according to the survey. N'Djamena in Chad ranked 3rd, while Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo ranked 4th. UK politically isolated from Europe in Chagos resettlement case, Seychelles' group says - Seychelles News Agency Seychelles News Agency UK politically isolated from Europe in Chagos resettlement case, Seychelles' group says Seychelles News Agency Residents of the Chagos Islands were removed from their homeland to other nations including Seychelles, Mauritius and the UK by the British government in the 1960s. The communities are still fighting for compensation and resettlement to their original ... 5 Interesting Things about Seychelles - Africa.com Africa.com 5 Interesting Things about Seychelles Africa.com Seychelles is a favorite holiday destination for many people from across the world. However, more often than not, many tend to forget that Seychelles is a part of Africa. As the country marks its Constitution Day and Independence Day later this month ... Seychelles Puts Climate Change Higher On National Agenda - AllAfrica.com Seychelles Puts Climate Change Higher On National Agenda AllAfrica.com Seychelles is putting climate change issues higher on the national agenda through strengthened cooperation and increased involvement with all partners in the process, a top official said. Earlier this year a two-day session was organised for a ... Seychelles: Group Preserves Seychelles' Traditional Music With Drum-Filled Performances On Wednesdays - AllAfrica.com Seychelles: Group Preserves Seychelles' Traditional Music With Drum-Filled Performances On Wednesdays AllAfrica.com Visitors who want to experience some of Seychelles' traditional music have the chance to do so on Wednesdays at Beau Vallon on the northern side of Mahe, the main island, during the performance of a local youth group. Every Wednesday during the Bazaar ... and more » Brazil's president counterattacks after graft charge - Seychelles News Agency Seychelles News Agency Brazil's president counterattacks after graft charge Seychelles News Agency Brazilian President Michel Temer gestures during the signing ceremony of the decree that fees differential prices for payment in cash and with credit card at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on June 26, 2017. Temer faces his own crisis with the ... and more » Sustainability in the Seychelles - Island Conservation News Island Conservation News Sustainability in the Seychelles Island Conservation News The North Island of Seychelles (sey-chelz) was the recipient of the National Geographic World Legacy Award for Conserving the Natural World. National Geographic annually collaborates with the international tourism trade fair ITB Berlin to acknowledge ...