History Seychelles

 Historical dates

851, the Seychelles appeared on Arab maps.
1502, the Seychelles appeared on Portuguese maps.
1609, the first British expedition arrived on Mahé.
1650-1730, the Seychelles became the pirates' favorite haunt.
1742, first French expedition to the Seychelles by Lazare Picault.
1756, navigator Nicolas Morphey took possession of the islands in the name of France and called them "Séchelles" after the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the time.
1768, Marion Dufresne's expedition for the exploration of Praslin where coco de mer was discovered.
1778, navigator Charles de Romainville launched a colonial settlement who later became Victoria.
1811, the English seized the Seychelles.
1835, abolition of slavery.
1903, the Seychelles became a colony of the British Crown.
1967, universal suffrage was established.
1976, on 29th June, the Seychelles became a republic, member of the Commonwealth. James Mancham was appointed President of the Republic, and France-Albert René, Prime Minister.
1977, on 5th June, a coup overthrown President Mancham, on a trip to London. It is his Prime Minister, France-Albert René, of Marxist obedience, who settled in as head of state.
1981, failed coup by South-African mercenaries.
1982, Aldabra atoll was listed as Unesco world heritage.
1983, Mai Valley in Praslin was listed as Unesco world heritage.
1986, new failed coup.
1991, establishment of multipartism.
1992, former President James Mancham went back to the Seychelles, after a fifteen year exile in Britain.
1993, the new Constitution, dedicated to strengthening multipartism was approved by a large majority, then the first multipartite elections took place since the independence. France-Albert René won the presidential election with 59.5% votes against 36.7% for former president Mancham.
1996: constitutional amendment planning on the appointment of a vice-president who will succeed the present president.
1998, France-Albert René was re-elected. Mancham and René buried the hatchet.
2001, anticipated presidential election. René was re-elected for a five year mandate with 54.19% of the votes. His major rival, reverend Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party (SNP), opposed the outcome of the election, accusing the FPPS (Seychelles People's Progressive Front) of perverting the votes by intimidating or bribing the electors.
2004, President René announced that he would retire at the end of the year and give up his place to his vice-president, James Michel. On 14th March, the SNP organised a demonstration in Victoria to protest against the "Seychellois people's sufferings" and demand a change of government. On 2nd April, the SNP announced that it would "acknowledge" the vice-president, James Michel.
30th July 2006: James Michel's victory for the presidential election allowed the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) to remain in power, as it was for 29 years.