Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles

Data code SE

Government type republic

National capital Victoria

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 Island), Grand' Anse (onPraslin Island), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri,Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Independence 29 June 1976 (from UK)

National holiday National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of new constitution)

Constitution 18 June 1993

Legal system based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Suffrage 17 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the presidentis both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the presidentis both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election lastheld 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
election results : President France Albert RENE reelected; percent of vote - France AlbertRENE (SPPF) 59.5%, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 36.72%

Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (33 seats, 22 popularlyelected by direct vote, 11 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winningat least 9 percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%; seats by party (elected)- SPPF 21, DP 1; seats by party (awarded) - SPPF 6, DP 4, UO 1
note: the 11 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of eachparty in the total vote

Judicial branch Court of Appeal; Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [FranceAlbert RENE]; Democratic Party or DP [Sir James MANCHAM]; United Oppositionor UO [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] - a coalition of the following parties: SeychellesParty or PS [Wavel RAMKALAWAN], Seychelles Democratic Movement or MSPD[JacquesHONDOUL], and Seychelles Liberal Party or SLP [Ogilvie BERLOUIS]; New DemocraticParty [Christopher GILL (former member of DP)]

Political pressure groups and leaders trade unions; Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Claude MOREL
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of Seychelles to the UnitedNations, 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX : [1] (212) 972-1786

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles

Flag description five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green(bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

NOTE: The information regarding Seychelles on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Seychelles Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Seychelles Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.