The Government of Seychelles - The World Countries

Seychelles - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Seychelles, it was named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SECHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 27 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Royale, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse Mahe, Grand Anse Praslin, Ile Perseverance I, Ile Perseverance II, La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka

National symbols

Coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green.

The flag

The National flag of Seychelles has five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side; the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, and green the land and natural environment.

The National Anthem

Title	"Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
Lyric/music	David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET

note: adopted 1996

More about the government of Seychelles

Constitution
Date of Independence	29 June 1976 (from the UK)
National holiday	Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)
Legal system	mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993
Amendments	Proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country’s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	5 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020)
Head of government	President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020)
Cabinet	Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections/appointments	president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 to 24 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
Election results	2020: Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%, other 1.6% 2015: President James Alix MICHEL reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 47.8%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 35.3%, other 16.9%; percent of vote in second round - James Alix MICHEL 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 49.8%
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats in the 2020-25 term; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 9 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections	Last held on 22-24 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); note - the election was originally scheduled for 2021 but was moved up a year and held alongside the presidential election in order to cut election costs
Election results	Percent of vote by party - LDS 54.8%, US 42.3%, other 2.9%; seats by party - LDS 25, US 10; composition - men 27, women 7, percentage women 20.6%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Seychelles Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court of Seychelles (consists of the chief justice and 9 puisne judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 Supreme Court judges)
Judge selection and term of office	All judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, a 3-member body, with 1 member appointed by the president of the republic, 1 by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, and 1 by the other 2 appointees; judges serve until retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts	Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Ian Dereck Joseph MADELEINE (since 1 December 2021); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Chancery	685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Telephone	[1] (212) 972-1785
FAX	[1] (212) 972-1786
Email address and website	[email protected] Foreign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles » United States of America (mfa.gov.sc)
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023); Chargé d’Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023) note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Chargé d’Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, Seychelles to manage the expanding policy interests
Embassy	2nd Floor, Oliaji Trade Center, Victoria Mahe, Seychelles; note - US Embassy in Seychelles reopened on 1 June 2023 after having been closed in 1996
Telephone	[248] 422 5256
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	2 (both natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve