What to expect
Zonm Lib, the Liberation Monument
The Zonm Lib Liberation Monument, also known as the Liberation Monument, marks a major political milestone in the history of the Seychelles. For everyone in the Seychelles who rose up against colonial oppression and injustice on 5 June 1977, it is a powerful symbol of La Liberté. The metal statue used to stand behind the People's Stadium on 5th of June Avenue and now stands in front of the Communication Center (ICCS), close to the United Seychelles party headquarters. The sturdy, masculine figure with raised arms and clenched fists, freed from their chains, stands for triumphant defiance and victory for a truly independent nation.
The Creole name Zonm Lib means "free man". The grey metal figure is an open-air monument, not a museum: there is nothing to see apart from the statue itself and its plinth with a flag.
The Liberty Monument on 5th of June Avenue
The name Liberty Monument is often used as if it meant Zonm Lib, but it refers to a different monument. It is a bronze sculpture, unveiled on 29 June 2014 on Independence Day. It shows a man and a woman beneath the national flag and stands on the spot on 5th of June Avenue from which Zonm Lib had previously been removed. Both monuments lie close together in the centre of Victoria and can be seen in a single walk.
History and relocation
The Liberation Monument was inaugurated in 1978 by the President of the Second Republic, who dedicated it to the martyrs of the revolution. In March 1989 marble steps were added to the granite base on which it stands, flanked by the national flag. From 1978, 5 June was a public holiday on which dignitaries and the public laid wreaths and flowers at 'Zonm Lib'. Since the introduction of multi-party democracy, the monument has stood for the spirit of revolutionary fervour and the determination of the people of the Seychelles to keep the flag of peace, harmony and freedom flying in the future.
The relocation in 2014
In March 2014 the Office of the President announced that Zonm Lib would be moved from 5th of June Avenue to a new site near the Maison du Peuple, the premises of the then governing party, only about 150 metres away. A monument to national unity was to be built on the avenue. The announcement met with mixed reactions, and the monument remains politically contested to this day. Seen objectively, it is a piece of contemporary history that, depending on your viewpoint, is read as liberation or as a party symbol.
Getting there
By car
From the Clocktower in Victoria, drive east into Independence Avenue. At the roundabout take the third exit, the "Diversion Road", which runs parallel to "5th of June Avenue". You can find parking along the "Diversion Road", for example near Box to Box Take Away. Then cross Latanier Avenue on foot and you are standing in front of the monument.
On foot from the Clocktower
Head south along Francis Rachel Street (a one-way street for cars). It leads past the small "La Esplanade" shopping arcade, the library and Kenwyn House. At the roundabout with the fish monument, the Unity Monument, you will see the statue on 5th of June Avenue diagonally opposite, in front of the "US Seychelles" building. Time: about 10 minutes.
From the Victoria Clocktower the route is well signposted. Since the 2014 move, the bronze sculpture of the Liberty Monument stands right on the avenue, with Zonm Lib itself on the party grounds a few steps further on.
By bus
Victoria's main bus station is next to the market and the Clocktower, and from there you walk the route described above. According to recent reports, SPTC buses are paid for cashlessly, with a ticket from the bus station or a visitor card. The flat fare is reportedly around SCR 12 per journey, and the day pass for visitors starts at SCR 100 (as of November 2026). You can find current prices and timetables in the SPTC app.
Opening hours, admission and time needed
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Outdoor monuments, no fixed hours known |
| Admission | No fee known (as of November 2026) |
| Time needed | 15 to 30 minutes; half a day with a walk through Victoria |
| Best time | Mornings, when it is cooler and there is less traffic |
Tips and surroundings
Other monuments in the capital are nearby: the Unity Monument and the Bicentennial Monument. If you want to know more about the history, you will find it in the National Museum of History and the Seychelles National Archives. The Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market is a good place to finish. You can read more about the main island on the page about Mahé.
