An island nation, Seychelles is located in the Somali sea segment of the Indian ocean, Northeast of Madagascar and about 1,600km(994mi) east of Kenya.
Seychelles were uninhabited throughout most of recorded history. This assumption was based initially on some scholars that Austronesian Voyagers and later Maldivian and Arab traders were the first to visit the uninhabited Seychelles and later proven to be true by the discovery of tombs, visible until 1910.
The British frigate “Orpheus” commanded by captain Henry Newcomers arrived at Mahe on 16 May 1794, during the war of the first coalition.
Terms of capitulation were drawn up and the next day Seychelles was surrendered to Britain. Jean Baptiste Queau de Quincy, the French administrator of Seychelles during the years of war with the United Kingdom, declined to resist when armed enemy warships arrived. Instead, he successfully negotiated the status of capitulation to Britain which gave the settlers a privileged position of neutrality.
Britain eventually assumed full control upon the surrender of Mauritius in 1810, formalised in 1814 at the treaty of Paris.
Seychelles became a crown colony separate from Mauritius in 1903. Elections were held in 1966 and 1970.
Independence was granted in 1976 and it became a republic at the same time. It has been a member of Commonwealth.
With a population of roughly 98,462, It has the smallest population of any sovereign African country.
The country consist of 115 islands. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, lies 1,500 kilometres (932mi) east of mainland Africa.
Other nearby island countries and territories include the Comoros, French overseas regions of Mayotte, the Chagos Archipelago (administered by the United Kingdom as the British Indian Ocean Territory) to the east.
The supreme Court of Seychelles created in 1903, is the highest trial court in Seychelles and the first court of appeal from all the lower courts and tribunals. The highest court of Appeal, which is the court of final appeal in the country.
There are no refining capacities on the islands. Oil and gas imports, distribution and re-export are the responsibility of Seychelles petroleum (sepec).
Various coup attempts have been made and exchange of powers have not been well deserving.
Tourism has been a huge factor in the country and has made significant approach to the residents.
In January 2013, Seychelles declared a state of emergency; the tropical cyclone felleng caused torrential rain, and flooding and landslides destroyed hundreds of houses.
