Albert René
President

(pronounced "all-BEHR ruh-NAY")

"The rights of the majority come before the rights of the individual."

The Republic of Seychelles is an island chain in the western Indian Ocean, located 1,600 km (1,000 mi) off the East African coast. The southernmost of its 115 islands is only 210 km (130 km) north of Madagascar. The second-smallest country in Africa, Seychelles has a total area of 455 sq km (176 sq mi). Mahd is the principal island, where about 80% of the population resides. It is also the site of the capital city, Victoria.

In 2002, the population was estimated at 80,000. The official languages of the nation are Creole, English, and French; though more than 90% of the people speak Creole. The major ethnic group is Seychellois, a mixture of Asian, African, and European stocks. Roman Catholics make up 90% of the population, with Anglicans accounting for an...