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The Republic of Seychelles (French: République des Seychelles, Seychellois Creole: Repiblik Sesel) is a tiny East African archipelagic country located in the Western Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa and just to the northeast of Madagascar, near the equator. It is composed of 115 islands, only several dozen of which are inhabited. The largest island, Mahé, contains the capital, Victoria. The country is simultaneously the smallest and the least populous in Africa.

Like Mauritius and Réunion, the archipelago was uninhabited before the early modern period, i.e. the 16th-19th century. Because of the very late settlement (the 1700s), however, Seychelles is more successful to keep most of its primitive flora and fauna than the twin islands (and their unfortunate dodos).

For a while it was a French colony along with Mauritius (they were administrated as one entity), but when the British took the islands in the Treaty of Paris, they turned the archipelago and Mauritius into separate colonies.

The Seychelles were declared independent in 1976 as a republic within the Commonwealth. However, almost a year later a coup deposed the President and the Prime Minister assumed full power, turning the country into a one-party state and a Soviet satellite until the end of the Cold War. Since then, the country has considerably prospered and now ranks among Africa's most developed and wealthiest countries, with a high HDI and GDP per capita (according to the IMF, it has the highest GDP per capita among all African countries, while the World Bank considers it to be the only African country to possess a high-income economy).

Being settled very late and with no indigenous population to speak of, the country is a definite melting pot and you can find a mixture of African, French, British, Indian, and Chinese cultures here, though the country is almost entirely Christian (whereas Mauritius is probably the most Hindu country outside of the Indian subcontinent). The official languages of the country are English, French, and a French-based creole. The latter is the main language for over 90% of the population.

The main attractions of the country are the Scenery Porn and the biodiversity, including several unique, endemic species of flora and fauna. Tourism forms a significant component of the economy, with many islands being turned into private resorts. However, while visiting, you should be wary of the rather high crime rate in the country.


The Seychellois flag https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/seychelles_flag_8102.png
The flag combines the red/white/green colors of the socialist People's Party, which ran the islands from 1977 to 1991, with the blue/white of the Democratic Party, which briefly ran Seychelles in 1976, and the green/yellow of the liberal National Party, and their diagonal orientation symbolizes the islands' progressive outlook. The individual colors also have their own symbolism — blue for the sky and the Indian Ocean; yellow for the sun; red for the people; white for justice; and green for the land.

The Seychellois national anthem

Sesel ou menm nou sel patri.
Kot nou viv dan larmoni.
Lazwa, lanmour ek lape.
Nou remersye Bondye.
Preserv labote nou pei.
Larises nou losean.
En leritaz byen presye.
Pour boner nou zanfan.
Reste touzour dan linite.
Fer monte nou paviyon.
Ansanm pou tou leternite.
Koste Seselwa!

Seychelles, our only motherland
Where we live in harmony
Happiness, love and peace
We give thanks to God.
Preserve the beauty of our country
The riches of our oceans
A precious heritage
For the happiness of our children.
Live forever in unity
Raise our flag
Together for all eternity
Join together all Seychellois.

Seychelles, notre seule patrie
Où nous vivons en harmonie
La joie, l'amour et la paix
Nous remercions le Bon Dieu!
Préservons la beauté de notre pays
La richesse de notre océan
Un héritage très précieux
Pour le bonheur de nos enfants
Restons toujours unis
Élevons notre drapeau
Ensemble pour l'éternité
Unissons-nous Seychellois!

Government
  • Unitary presidential republic
    • President: Wavel Ramkalawan
    • Vice-President: Ahmed Afif
    • National Assembly Speaker: Roger Mancienne

Miscellaneous
  • Capital and largest city: Victoria
  • Population: 98,462
  • Area: 459 km² (177 sq mi) (181st)
  • Currency: Seychellois rupee (SR) (SCR)
  • ISO-3166-1 Code: SC
  • Country calling code: 248
  • Highest point: Morne Seychellois (905 m/2,969 ft) (165th)
  • Lowest point: Indian Ocean (3,741 m/12,274 ft) (-)

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