16th Century: The islands were first sighted by Portuguese explorers. Vasco da Gama's expedition passed through the area around 1502. 1609: The English East India Company made the first recorded landing on the islands. 18th Century: The French began to take interest in Seychelles. In 1756, they officially claimed the islands and named them after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, the French Minister of Finance. French and British Control
1977: A coup led by France-Albert René resulted in a single-party socialist state, which lasted until the early 1990s. 1993: Seychelles transitioned to a multi-party democratic system. Since then, it has held regular elections.
16th Century: The islands were first sighted by Portuguese explorers. Vasco da Gama's expedition passed through the area around 1502.
1609: The English East India Company made the first recorded landing on the islands.
18th Century: The French began to take interest in Seychelles. In 1756, they officially claimed the islands and named them after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, the French Minister of Finance.
French and British Control
1977: A coup led by France-Albert René resulted in a single-party socialist state, which lasted until the early 1990s.
1993: Seychelles transitioned to a multi-party democratic system. Since then, it has held regular elections.