Long-form name: Republic of Seychelles

Type: republic

Capital: Victoria

Administrative divisions: 23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin Island), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)

Constitution: 5 June 1979

Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

National holiday: Liberation Day (anniversary of coup), 5 June (1977)

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court

Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government--President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE

Suffrage: universal at age 17

Elections: President--last held 9-11 June 1989 (next to be held June 1994); results--President France Albert RENE reelected without opposition; National Assembly--last held 5 December 1987 (next to be held December 1992); results--SPPF is the only party; seats--(25 total, 23 elected) SPPF 23

Communists: negligible, although some Cabinet ministers espouse pro-Soviet line

Other political or pressure groups: trade unions, Roman Catholic Church

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Second Secretary, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Marc R. MARENGO; Chancery (temporary) at 820 Second Avenue, Suite 201, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 687-9766; US--Ambassador James B. MORAN; Embassy at 4th Floor, Victoria House, Victoria (mailing address is Box 148, Victoria, and Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles, or APO New York 09030-0006); telephone (248) 25256

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green; the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest

NOTE: The information regarding Seychelles on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Seychelles Government 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Seychelles Government 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.