| Languages | |
|---|---|
| French, English, Seychellois Creole | |
| Religion | |
| Catholic |
| Part of a series of articles on the |
| French people |
|---|
 |
Franco-Seychellois are people of French descent living in the Seychelles. Franco-Seychellois have played an important role in the country's history both before and since independence.
Many Franco-Seychellois settled on the islands during the period of French rule over the archipelago. During this time, African and Malagasy slaves were also brought to the Seychelles. Franco-Seychellois were allowed to retain their culture after the British took control of the Seychelles.
Historically, French-speaking European Seychellois were divided between two classes, grands blancs, who represented the wealthy planter class, and petit blancs, who represented the working classes. The grands blancs are a less numerous group, composed of only about forty large families, but held most of the land and political power in the islands in the colonial era. [1] The Planters and Taxpayers Association, which represented the interests of the grands blancs, dominated the Legislative Council of Seychelles from its inception in 1962. The two groups were historically divided, and as a consequence the petit blancs were politically aligned with the Seychellois Creole people by the 1960s. Upon the independence of Seychelles, many Franco-Seychellois played important roles in the development of a one-party socialist state under the leadership of France-Albert René (himself ethnically French) and the Seychelles People's United Party. [2]
Franco-Seychellois play an important role in the country's economy. They are employed in all sectors, including government, business and education.
The majority of Franco-Seychellois speak Seychellois Creole, the country's most widely spoken language. They also often speak French and English. Of the religiously affiliated, the large majority are Roman Catholic, with a minority belonging to other Christian denominations.
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Seychelles, officially the Republic of Seychelles, is an island country and archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, is 1,500 kilometres east of mainland Africa. Nearby island countries and territories include the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the French overseas departments of Mayotte and Réunion to the south; and Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago to the east. Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa as well as the least populated sovereign African country, with an estimated population of 100,600 in 2022.
The politics of Seychelles have historical roots in both one-party socialism and autocratic rule. Following independence from the United Kingdom in 1976, Seychelles was a sovereign republic until 1977, when the original President and leader of the Seychelles Democratic Party, James Mancham, was overthrown in a bloodless coup by the Prime Minister France-Albert René. René installed a single-party socialist state under the Seychelles People's Progressive Front in 1979 which remained in power until 1993, when multiparty elections took place for the first time since independence, after restoring the multi-party system in 1991. Modern day Seychelles governance takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Seychelles is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly.
France-Albert René was a Seychellois lawyer, politician and statesman who served as the second President of Seychelles from 1977 to 2004. He also served as the country's second Prime Minister from its independence in 1976 to 1977.
James Alix Michel, GCSK is a Seychellois politician who served as the third President of Seychelles from 2004 to 2016. He previously served as vice president under his predecessor, France-Albert René, from 1996 to 2004.
United Seychelles is a political party in Seychelles. It publishes a newspaper called The People. It was known as the Seychelles People's Progressive Front until June 2009, when it changed its name to the People's Party. The party changed its name again in November 2018, from the People's Party to United Seychelles.
Seychellois Creole, also known as kreol, is the French-based creole language spoken by the Seychelles Creole people of the Seychelles. It shares national language status with English and French.
Sir James Richard Marie Mancham KBE was a Seychellois politician who founded the Seychelles Democratic Party and was the first President of Seychelles from 1976 to 1977.
The National Youth Service (NYS) was a youth service program implemented by the government of Seychelles during its time as a one-party state. It was a formerly compulsory service and included traditional educational curriculum, political education and paramilitary training. Criticized by many as an indoctrination scheme, the program was lauded by President France-Albert René as a way to steer disadvantaged youth from bad habits and troubled situations at home and instead forge a body of educated, skilled, and socially-conscious future administrators of Seychelles. The NYS worked closely with the Seychelles People's Progressive Front Youth League.
Seychellois Creole people are an ethnic group native to Seychelles, who speak Seychellois Creole. They are the predominant ethnic group in the country.
Indo-Seychellois are inhabitants of Seychelles with Indian heritage. With about 10,000 Indo-Seychellois in a total Seychellois population of nearly 100,000, they constitute a minority ethnic group in Seychelles.
Jacques Hodoul was a Seychellois judge and former politician. After serving as Minister of Education and Culture, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1979 to 1982, Minister of National Development from 1982 to 1989, and Minister of Tourism and Transport from 1989 to 1991. He was the leader of the Seychelles Movement for Democracy, which he founded in 1991. Hodoul was appointed to the post of Justice of Appeal in March 2005, the highest court in Seychelles. Hodoul resigned from this position in 2011 after finishing his minimum five-year term. Hodoul died on 3 May 2021.
Danielle Marie-Madeleine Jorre de St Jorre was a Seychelles politician. She was the foreign minister of Seychelles under President France-Albert René from 1989 until her death in 1997. Danielle de St Jorre was a teacher by profession and also a linguist. She was known as a pioneer in the promotion of Creole language. Her passion and determination to ensure the development of Seychellois Creole was known in the Indian Ocean island nation.
The Seychelles Community in the European Union is composed of former citizens of the Seychelles who now live in the European Union (EU).
Articles related to Seychelles include:
The history of Seychelles dates back to the fourth of the Portuguese India Armadas led by Vasco da Gama, though Seychelles was likely already known to Arab navigators and other sailors for many centuries. On 15 March 1503, the scrivener Thomé Lopes noted the sighting of an elevated island, doubtless one of the granitic islands and almost certainly Silhouette Island. The first recorded landing was by the men of the English East India Company ship Ascension, which arrived in Seychelles in January 1609.The islands were claimed by France in 1756. Seychelles remained uninhabited until the first settlers arrived on board the ship Thélemaque, which arrived on 27 August 1770. Captain Leblanc Lecore landed the first colonists, comprising 15 white men, eight Africans and five Indians. The Seychellois Creole language developed as a means of communication between the different races. The British frigate Orpheus commanded by Captain Henry Newcome arrived at Mahé on 16 May 1794. Terms of capitulation were drawn up and the next day Seychelles was surrendered to Britain. Following the fall of Mauritius to British forces, Captain Phillip Beaver of the Nisus arrived at Mahé on 23 April 1811 and took possession of Seychelles as a permanent colony of Britain. The Seychelles became an independent republic in 1976. Following a coup d'état, a socialist one-party state ruled the country from 1977 to 1993. The subsequent democratic Presidential elections were won by candidates of the same party.
Presidential elections were held in the Seychelles between 19 and 21 May 2011, commencing on the Outer Islands on 19 May, with Inner Islands voting on 20 May and Mahé on 21 May. The result was a victory for incumbent President James Michel of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front, who received 55% of the vote in the first round.
India–Seychelles relations are bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Seychelles. India has a High Commission in Victoria while Seychelles maintains a High Commission in New Delhi.
North Korea–Seychelles relations refers to the current and historical relationship between North Korea and Seychelles. Neither country maintains an embassy in their respective capitals.
Dr Jean Désiré MaximeFerrari, KSS, OBE was a politician and former obstetrician who held several different positions in the government of the Seychelles. He was widely regarded as an activist against corrupt governmental practices and a champion of human rights and democracy in the African island nations of the Indian Ocean.
Seychelles–Yugoslavia relations were the historical foreign relations between Seychelles and Yugoslavia. The two countries established formal relations in 1977, upon the independence of Seychelles from the United Kingdom. Both countries were members of the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War.
 | This Seychelles-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
