Independence Day in Seychelles commemorates the country's liberation from British colonial rule and its transformation into a sovereign republic on June 29, 1976. It reflects both the political struggles leading up to independence and the enduring pride of the Seychellois people.

When is Independence Day?

Independence Day in Seychelles is celebrated every year on June 29.

The following is the list of Independence Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Independence Day?

Seychelles was first colonized by the French in 1756, who brought enslaved Africans to work on plantations.

After the Napoleonic Wars, the islands were ceded to Britain in 1814 under the Treaty of Paris. For more than 150 years, Seychelles remained a British Crown Colony, with an economy based on coconuts, cinnamon, and vanilla plantations, worked by slaves until abolition in 1835 and later by indentured laborers.

By the mid-20th century, political movements emerged pushing for greater self-determination.

In the 1960s and 1970s, political parties formed: the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP, led by Sir James Mancham, which favored close ties with Britain), and the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP, led by France-Albert René, which pushed for full independence).

After negotiations with Britain, the decision was made for Seychelles to become fully independent.

On June 29, 1976, Seychelles gained independence from Britain, becoming a sovereign republic within the Commonwealth. The transfer of power was marked by celebrations in Victoria, the capital, with the raising of the new national flag.

Just a year later, in June 1977, France-Albert René seized power in a coup d'état, establishing a one-party socialist state that lasted until the early 1990s.

Despite this, June 29 remained a national holiday, symbolizing the people's right to sovereignty.