CIA Factbook The World Factbook 1994: SeychellesGovernment Names: • conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles • conventional short form: Seychelles Digraph: SE 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 Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK) National holiday: National Day, 18 June (1993) ( adoption of new constitution) Constitution: 18 June 1993 Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal Executive branch: • chief of state and head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); election last held 20-23 July 1993; results—President France Albert RENE reelected by 59.5% of votes, MANCHAM (PS party) 36.72% • cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple): elections last held 20-23 July 1993; results—SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%; seats—(33 total, 22 elected) SPPF 22 Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: ruling party—Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE; Democratic Party (DP), Sir James MANCHAM; United Opposition (UO) is a coalition of the following parties: Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel RAMKALAWAN; Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL; Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS;; 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, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: • chief of mission: Ambassador Marc Michael Rogers MARENGO • chancery: (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017 • telephone: (212) 687-9766 or 9767 • FAX: (212) 922-9177 US diplomatic representation: • chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew F. MATTINGLY • embassy: 4th Floor, Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe • mailing address: Box 148, Unit 62501, Victoria, Seychelles; APO AE 09815-2501 • telephone: (248) 25256 • FAX: (248) 25189 Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green; the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest