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
The Seychellois national anthem
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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) (-)