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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.
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.
The Seychelles National Party(SNP) is a liberal political party in Seychelles. Its followers emphasize active multiparty democracy, respect for human rights and liberal economic reforms. It was founded in response to what it called the "totalitarian regime" of former President France-Albert René. It publishes a newsletter called Regar, which is frequently sued for libel by government officials. On Regar's front page of every issue is a quote from the constitution of Seychelles invoking their right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
Wavel Ramkalawan is a Seychellois politician and Anglican priest who has been serving as the President of Seychelles since 26 October 2020. Ramkalawan was an opposition MP from 1993 to 2011 and 2016 to 2020. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2011 and 2016 to 2020. On 25 October 2020, Ramkalawan won the presidential election, the country's first such victory for an opposition candidate since independence, marking its first successful peaceful transition of power.
The unicameral National Assembly is the Seychelles's legislative body.
Patrick Georges Pillay is a Seychellois politician who was the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Seychelles from 2016 to 2018. Previously he served as Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Health. In 2010, he was appointed resident High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Ginette Gamatis is a member of the National Assembly of Seychelles. A teacher by profession, she is a member of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front, and was first elected to the Assembly in 1993.
Joevana Charles was a member of the National Assembly of Seychelles. She was a member of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front, and was first elected to the Assembly in 1993.
Mitcy Larue is a member of the National Assembly of Seychelles. A teacher by profession, she is a member of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front, and was first elected to the Assembly in 1993. She served as the Minister of Family from 2018 until 2020.
Marie-Antoinette Rose is a Seychellois politician and journalist. She is a member of the National Assembly of Seychelles. She subscribes for Seychelles People's Progressive Front, and was first elected to the Assembly in 2006 on a proportional basis; she was re-elected in 2007.
Marie-Louise Potter is a Seychellois politician and diplomat member of the National Assembly of Seychelles. She is a member of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front and was first elected to the Assembly in 1993. In 2007, she became the leader of Government Business. Potter was appointed in March 2012 as the Permanent Representative of Seychelles to the United Nations, on June 9, 2012, as the Seychelles Ambassador to the United States, as High Commissioner (Commonwealth) to Ottawa, and on 1 November 2016 as Foreign Secretary, and retired from these posts on 1 March 2017.
Vicky Theresine is a member of the National Assembly of Seychelles. A teacher by profession, she is a member of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front, and was first elected to the Assembly on a proportional basis in 2007.
The 2016 United Nations Security Council election was held on 28 June during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The elections were for five non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council for two-year mandates commencing on 1 January 2017. In accordance with the Security Council's rotation rules, whereby the ten non-permanent UNSC seats rotate among the various regional blocs into which UN member states traditionally divide themselves for voting and representation purposes, the five available seats were allocated as follows:
Marie Hilda Stevenson-Delhomme CBE was a Seychellois politician and medical doctor. She was the Seychelles' first female politician.
The Cabinet of Seychelles consists of the President, Vice-president and the Ministers. It formulates the government's policies and advises the President.
Cannabis in Seychelles is illegal, with cultivation, possession and sale of the substance banned. Regardless of this, the controlled substance has seen continual use within Seychelles, with statistics indicating that more than a quarter of the nation's population are users of the drug, as well as use evident amongst adolescents. The drug is ingested in a variety of forms for medicinal or recreational use.
General elections were held in Seychelles on 22–24 October 2020 to elect the President and members of the National Assembly. The National Assembly elections had been due in 2021, but in July 2020 were brought forward by President Danny Faure in order to hold them together with the presidential elections, a proposal supported by opposition parties.
Devika Sumitra Kathrina Vidot is a Seychellois accountant and politician. Since 3 November 2020, she serves as Minister of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry.
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