Thursday, October 06, 2016

Seychelles



Praslin - 2nd largest island of the Seychelles

With less than 100,000 people, the Seychelles is the smallest of any independent African state. Like Mauritius, the islands were visited but not inhabited until sea trade opened in full force. On the route between Asia and Africa, the 115 islands which make up the country were sometimes used by pirates until the French took control in 1756, naming the islands after the Minister of Finance. Britain replaced French power during the Napoleonic Wars in 1794. Independence was granted in 1976 as an independent republic within the Commonwealth. In 1979, it was declared a Socialist one-party state. As a player in the cold war, a group of South African mercenaries posing as a touring rugby team attempted a coup in the 80s. Multi-party politics started in 1993 (the year before South Africa's own democracy was born). The Seychelles is a member of various international organisations including the Indian Ocean Commission and the Southern African Development Community




Comoros, Reunion (France), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles

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