History of Seychelles

Brief history of Seychelles

The Seychelles archipelago, originally granite, was formed by the break-up of the ancient continent Gondwana 250 million years ago. In the west, Africa appeared, and in the east, India. The Indian Ocean flooded the lowlands between the two.

The summits remained visible, resulting in Seychelles’ 115 islands. Turtles, birds, and cocos de Mer ruled the Seychelles archipelago until the 9th century.

Arab sailors who had established trading ports in East Africa paid a visit to the Seychelles islands. In Seychelles, they stocked up on water and food.

Aldabra is an Arabic name for the atoll. It’s “Al Dabaran,” a Taurus constellation star. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to visit Seychelles. At 1502 Vasco de Gama arrived in the Amirantes.

It was the turn of English and French navigators to lead reconnaissance trips in the 17th and 18th centuries. The abundance of birds and fish, as well as the size of Seychelles’ huge tortoises, captivated them.

The India route, which was increasingly used by ships carrying valuable commodities, attracted pirates, who made Seychelles their preferred base in the Indian Ocean. That’s where they’d bury their loot! Specifically in Mahé, the Bel Ombre region, and Frégate.

The archipelago became a shelter for pirates at the end of the 17th century, including the famed privateer Jean-François Hodoul. This former ship’s captain left a trail of evidence in his wake. He erected the Château des Mamelles, one of Seychelles’ most important historical landmarks, after stealing a huge number of ships. It was constructed in 1804 on the island of Mahé and may still be seen today. At the same time, you can pay a visit to Hodoul’s grave at Bel Air Cemetery, Seychelles’ oldest cemetery.

The colonization of Seychelles by the French was also taking place at the time. They’d already established themselves in Reunion and Mauritius. Captain Nicolas Morphey led an expedition to take ownership of the Seychelles archipelago on behalf of the King of France in the mid-eighteenth century.

The English took Mahé at the end of the 18th century. Seychelles was colonized by the British and remained so until 1976 when it declared independence. After that, the Seychelles archipelago became a one-party state. It wasn’t until 1991 that a multi-party system was implemented.

Seychelles today British Commonwealth 

Seychelles is a British Commonwealth of Nations member and a democratic presidential republic. The President is elected for a five-year term by popular vote. The unicameral parliament is the highest legislative body. The state is divided into 23 magistrates in terms of administration.

The tourism industry, which generates over 70% of the state’s revenue, is the economic cornerstone of the economy, followed by fish production. Seychelles is home to the world’s largest tuna processing facility in the Indian Ocean. Thousands of multinational enterprises are registered in Seychelles, which is also an offshore zone.

Victoria is one of the world’s tiniest capitals, Seychelles’ only major harbor, and the country’s only metropolis. There are numerous Creole restaurants, souvenir shops, fruit stands, and the famed Sir Selwyn Clarke Market, as well as art galleries, in the city. Victoria is a stunningly lovely and incredibly charming city, with historic buildings with marquises and openwork balconies engulfed in lush vegetation.

Wavel Ramkalwan has been the President of the Republic of Seychelles since 2020.