Odile De Comarmond:Seychelles’ Political Landscape
By: Rassin Vannier and Betymie Bonnelame
June 25, 2026
Seychelles will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence from Great Britain on June 29. The decision for Seychelles to become an independent nation in June 1976 was finalised in January 1976, when a third Constitutional Conference was held, attended by the then Governor of Seychelles, Collin Hamilton Allen. On June 29 that year, Seychelles became a republic.
To learn more about the political landscape and the changes that led to the island nation’s independence, SNA had an interview with Odile De Comarmond, a Seychellois historian.
SNA: Can you tell us what the political situation was like in Seychelles before independence?
OD: The political landscape in Seychelles before independence was rather complex and passive. Being a British colony with a large majority of French landowners created an amalgamation of ideologies from both colonial powers. Major changes began in November 1903, when Seychelles became a crown colony with its own Governor, Executive, and Legislative Councils.
Despite this new development, political participation remained very limited. It was only in 1939 that movements advocating some form of autonomy started. This was with the formation of the Seychelles Taxpayers and Planters Association. The aim was mainly to bring to the Governor's attention all matters relating to the colony's taxpayers. This means that the movement was primarily focused on the interests of the rich landowners.
The start of the Second World War in 1939 had some impact on the 1948 elections that took place in the colony. The Association had four candidates standing at the election for the Legislative Council, each to represent one region. Around 2,000 citizens were eligible to vote. Interesting to note that eligibility to vote was limited to literate landowners. Despite the restrictions for literate voters only, this first election was seen as a great step forward for the people of Seychelles, as was published in the Seychelles Government Bulletin of November 11, 1948.
The early 60s is described as the political awakening in Seychelles. In 1963, the first political party was created.
On April 9, 1963, the first political party, the Seychelles Islanders United Party (SIUP), was formed by Rifned Jumeau. The main aim was ‘to deal with the welfare of and take democratic action for a higher standard of living for the people of Seychelles’.
The following year saw the creation of two other political parties: the Seychelles People’s United Party(SPUP), which called for Independence from Great Britain, and the Seychelles Democratic Party(SDP), which wanted integration with Great Britain. The leaders of the two parties were, respectively, France Albert Rene and James Mancham. The rivalry between these two parties dominated the political arena of Seychelles during the 1960s and 1970s until independence.
There were several political rallies, protest marches and strikes, mostly led by the SPUP. This put additional pressure on the British colonial power, and as a result, some major discussions on the affairs of the colony had to be held. The first impactful development was the constitutional reforms of 1967, whereby the first general elections, which took place that same year, were held with the introduction of universal adult suffrage.
The reform also included the creation of a majority of elected members in the legislature from five elective seats to eight, the division of the population into eight electoral areas and the establishment of a single Governing Council which performed both Legislative and Executive functions.
In 1968, the issue of independence was raised in the House of Commons, and the following year, Lord Shepherd, who was the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, arrived in Seychelles to have discussions with France Albert Rene, leader of SPUP and James Mancham, leader of SDP. From then on, there was no doubt that the colony would soon achieve its Independence.
On March 9, 1970, the first Constitutional Conference was held in London to formulate a new constitution, which provided for an 18-member Legislative Assembly and an Advisory Council of Ministers. In the elections which followed, SDP won 10 seats, SPUP won 5 seats, and James Mancham was appointed the first Chief Minister of Seychelles.
From March 14 to 24, 1975, a second Constitutional Conference was held in London at Marlborough House. In June 1975, SPUP and SDP formed a coalition Government. In September that same year, Seychelles entered self-government, and James Mancham became Prime Minister.
In January of 1976, a third Constitutional Conference was held. It was attended by the then Governor of Seychelles, Collin Hamilton Allen. In this last conference, the decision was finalised for Seychelles to become an independent nation in June that same year.
On June 29, 1976, Seychelles achieved its Independence and became a Republic. James Mancham became President of Seychelles, and France Albert Rene became Prime Minister. The population was then 60,504 inhabitants. Seychelles achieved its independence after 165 years of British Rule (1811-1976).
SNA: Why didn't the British want to maintain a presence in the Indian Ocean?
OD: Britain’s attitude towards its colonies changed in the 1960s due to different strategic and political pressures.
The economic impact of the Second World War on Britain’s economy was the main preoccupation.
The strategic and economic impact of the independence of major British colonies of the Indian Ocean, starting with India in 1947.
The rise of anti-colonial movements across Africa was putting a lot of pressure on Great Britain.
Moreover, Britain was also under pressure from the United Nations to give independence to its colonies.
SNA: What made the Democratic Party change its point of view to accept independence?
OD: Many factors made the Democratic Party change its view on Independence. First of all, the international situation regarding the independence movement, mainly from the African continent, was putting a lot of pressure on Great Britain. The latter had to convince Mancham of the situation and encourage him to change his political agenda. Internally, there was pressure from the SPUP, which was fighting for independence. The SPUP’s mass activities helped to create awareness of the political landscape and the need for self-determination. Hence, the change in the Democratic Party’s perspective on independence was forced upon them.
SNA: What was the situation of the vast majority of Seychellois before independence?
Before independence, the socio-economic situation was in a deplorable state. The economy was mainly based on plantations, and most of the ex-slaves were working on the different plantations as well as on the outer islands, where guano was being exploited. The fact that Seychelles had been neglected as a colony was acknowledged by the British. In the move to discharge the responsibility of all its colonies in the early 1960s, the British Foreign Secretary stated that independence will be given to bigger countries, while smaller and less viable colonies like Seychelles would not be able to stand on their own feet, hence they will need more preparation.
The majority of the population lived in extreme poverty. Health records indicated that illnesses were associated with inadequate diet and poor sanitation. Housing for the rural population was mainly home-made structures of wood and thatch. Before 1960, no government money was invested in housing.
In education, it was only in 1963 that the decision was taken to extend universal free education for all up to the age of 15.
It was only in the early 1960s that major developments happened in Seychelles so as to prepare the population for the eventual form of self-government.
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