28 Facts About Seychelles

1.

Seychelles, officially the Republic of Seychelles, is an archipelagic country consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean at the eastern edge of the Somali Sea.

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2.

Seychelles was uninhabited prior to being encountered by Europeans in the 16th century.

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3.

Seychelles were uninhabited until the 18th century, when Europeans arrived with enslaved Africans.

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4.

The Seychelles have never been inhabited by indigenous people, but its islanders maintain their own Creole heritage.

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5.

Seychelles became a crown colony separate from Mauritius in 1903.

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6.

In 1976, Seychelles was granted independence from the United Kingdom and became a republic.

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7.

In January 2013, Seychelles declared a state of emergency when the tropical cyclone Felleng caused torrential rain, and flooding and landslides destroyed hundreds of houses.

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8.

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.

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9.

The highest court of law in Seychelles is the Seychelles Court of Appeal, which is the court of final appeal in the country.

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10.

Seychelles served as the Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2011 and from 2016 to 2020.

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11.

Seychelles is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Indian Ocean Commission, La Francophonie, the Southern African Development Community and the Commonwealth of Nations.

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12.

Military of Seychelles is the Seychelles People's Defence Force which consists of a number of distinct branches: an Infantry Unit and Coast Guard, Air Force and a Presidential Protection Unit.

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13.

In 2018, Seychelles signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

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14.

Seychelles is a key participant in the fight against Indian Ocean piracy primarily committed by Somali pirates.

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15.

Seychelles is divided into twenty-six administrative regions comprising all of the inner islands.

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16.

Seychelles today is known for success stories in protecting its flora and fauna.

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17.

Granitic islands of Seychelles are home to about 75 endemic plant species, with a further 25 or so species in the Aldabra group.

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18.

Seychelles is home to two terrestrial ecoregions: Granitic Seychelles forests and Aldabra Island xeric scrub.

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19.

Prime agricultural products currently produced in Seychelles include sweet potatoes, vanilla, coconuts and cinnamon.

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20.

Seychelles government has prioritised a curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs and further privatisation of public enterprises.

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21.

Seychelles has emerged as the least corrupt country in Africa in the latest Corruption Perception Index report released by Transparency International in January 2020.

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22.

In March 2015, Seychelles allocated Assumption Island to be developed by India.

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23.

Seychelles has a diverse and upcoming group of artists who draw inspiration from the islands around them.

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24.

Recently published books provide unique overviews of contemporary art in Seychelles, and explore the country's history and development of visual art.

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25.

Music of Seychelles is diverse, a reflection of the fusion of cultures through its history.

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26.

Main daily newspaper is the Seychelles Nation, dedicated to local government views and current topics.

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27.

Seychelles has the highest literacy rate of any country in sub-Saharan Africa.

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28.

University of Seychelles, initiated in conjunction with the University of London, opened on 17 September 2009 in three locations, and offers qualifications from the University of London.

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