HISTORY OF THE SEYCHELLES
HISTORY, FROM THE DISCOVERY TO THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS
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c. 850 AD
961
The first cards showing the so-called "sisters" - the Seychelles - appear
961
1502
1609
1609
1742
French occupation, French captain Lazare Picault discovers the Seychelles for the French and French planters and their African slaves settle in the Seychelles
1744
Lazare Picault calls the main island Mahé
1744
1756
France expresses claims on the island of Mahé
1770
The French are settling in St. Anne
1770
1778
In today's Victoria on Mahé a small French garrison is established, which is taken over by the inhabitants of the Seychelles around 1790
1814
After the Napoleonic wars, the sovereignty over the Seychelles passes to the British, who administer the archipelago from Mauritius
1814
1818
The Seychelles as a British colony, the Seychelles officially become a British colony. They have almost 8000 inhabitants, who are relatively wealthy due to the trade in cotton. Later, due to the falling cotton prices, coconut plantations are established
1835
The history of slavery is officially abolished in the Seychelles
1835
1841
The settlement L'Etablissement - so called by the French - is renamed Victoria
1862
A mudslide claims 70 lives in Victoria
1862
1900
The Seychelles have about 19,000 inhabitants. The main cultivated product is vanilla, furthermore trade is done with copra and cloves
1903
The Seychelles will become an independent crown colony under Governor Sweet-Escott
1903
1914-1918
During the First World War, the population of the Seychelles is undernourished due to the poor supply and economic situation
1926
The islands are supplied with electricity and telephone connections
1926
1930
The political awareness of the population is growing. So they join together in groups such as the League of Coloured People and the Taxpayers' Organisation
1939-1945
In the history of the Second World War, the islands were used to refuel warships
1939-1945
1948
A representation of the people is introduced
1964
The Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP) of France Albert René and the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP) of Sir James Mancham are founded. The Seychelles independence movement begins. The SPUP with a socialist orientation raises its first call for early independence. The SDP on the other hand advocates closer ties with Great Britain
1964
1967
Universal suffrage is introduced
1970
The constitution is reformed. This sets the course towards independence
1970
1971
The international airport of Mahé is completed. This will lay the foundation for the prosperity of those working in the tourism industry
1975
Seychelles retains internal autonomy
1975
June 29, 1976
The Seychelles are granted independence by Great Britain. A grand coalition is formed under British pressure. In a presidential system Mancham (SDP) becomes president and René (SPUP) becomes prime minister.
1977
The Seychelles as a one-party state, On June 5, a coup initiated by René leads to the fall of the strictly pro-Western Mancham. Under the new president René, the republic becomes a socialist one-party state based on the Tanzanian model
1977
1978
The SPUP is renamed the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) and transformed into a socialist unity party
1979
The system of the one-party state is laid down in a new constitution
1979
1981
A coup attempt by cloaked mercenaries fails
1982
Tanzanian troops quell an uprising within the military
1982
1984
The second term of office of Albert René begins. In the same year, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar join together to form the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). In the IOC regulations are made to promote trade, tourism and fishing
1989
Albert René's party emerged victorious from the June elections. Albert René takes up his third term of office. Gradual liberalisation begins
1989
1991
The return to the multi-party system, with district elections in December, shows the loss of confidence in the SPPF. The party congress decides to restore the multi-party system.
1993
In June, the third Seychelles Constitution comes into force. The National Assembly is expanded to 34 members. Albert René is again the winner of the July elections. Thus his fourth term of office begins.
1993
1996
A constitutional amendment will regulate the succession of President Albert René. The office of Vice-President is created, to be taken over by James Michel, who was previously Minister of Finance, Defence and Communications
1997
Seychelles joins the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
1997
1998
The SPPF wins the elections by an overwhelming majority and receives 30 of the total. 34 seats in parliament. The fifth term of office of Albert René begins. He is re-elected with 67% of votes
1999
Seychelles joins the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (IORARC)
1999
2001
Albert René wins the early presidential elections in September with only 54% of votes left. His rival candidate Ramkalawan receives 45%.
2002
The SPPF wins the parliamentary elections in December. It receives 54% of the votes and 23 of the total. 34 seats in parliament. The opposition party receives 43% and 11 seats
2002
2004
On 14 April 2004, James Alix Michel took over the office of President prematurely, previously held by Albert René, who resigned for health reasons in March 2004. James Michel is thus the 3rd President of the Seychelles
2004
The severe tsunami of December 2004 also reached the Seychelles and caused great damage. There were no fatalities
2004
2006
The People's Progressive Front, which has been in power for 30 years, is elected for another five years with 54%. James Michel remains president. The opposition party, the Seychelles National Party led by the Anglican priest Wavel Ramkalawan, achieves 46 percent
2007
Seychelles rejoins the SADC regional community
2007
2008
The Seychelles Rupee is freely convertible since September 2008. All payments in the Seychelles can therefore be made in this currency. The state has been considered insolvent since mid-2008. Within the framework of Operation Atalanta to secure sea routes against pirates operating mainly from Somalia, the EU supports the Seychelles in building up its own coastal protection
2009
In the Gulf of Aden, international patrols have increased, so that pirates have placed their activities off the Seychelles. The warships of Operation Atalanta are now to operate as far as the Seychelles. This is necessary because the pirates are moving further and further away from the coastal waters, it is said
2009
2010
The Seychelles open their own university. Previously, students had to go overseas for higher education. Many stayed there. With its own university, the island state hopes to stop the "brain drain". The Unisey - as the new university is called - works in cooperation with the University of London, the Sorbonne in Paris and institutes from India and Australia to offer a wide range of studies
2011
In the elections, 66-year-old James Michel wins against three competitors. It is his second term in office. The elections were fair. James Michel promises to further improve the economic situation and strengthen good governance in his second term of office
2011
2012
In May, the Seychelles East Africa System (SEAS) cable, which connects the island archipelago to the global fibre optic data network, reached the Seychelles on the west coast in Beau Vallon. This project by the government and two local telephone companies will significantly stimulate the service sector, but also the other sectors of the Seychelles economy: Internet availability will increase while costs will fall compared to the current satellite-based system
2013
2013
2015
2016
2016
2017
2018
2018
2019
2020
2020
2020
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