1977 Seychelles coup d'état

1977 Seychelles coup d'état
Part of the Cold War

A 1978 post stamp commemorating the anniversary of the 1977 coup, called "Liberation Day"
Date4–5 June 1977
Location
Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
4°37′S 55°27′E / 4.617°S 55.450°E / -4.617; 55.450
Result

Coup attempt succeeds.

Belligerents

SDP–led Government

SPUP–affiliated insurgents
Supported by:
 Tanzania
Commanders and leaders
Sir James Mancham France-Albert René
Strength
60–200
Casualties and losses
1 1
1977 Seychelles coup d'état is located in Seychelles
1977 Seychelles coup d'état
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Nexus of coup in Victoria (marked green), Seychelles

The 1977 Seychelles coup d'état was a virtually bloodless coup that occurred in the East African and Indian Ocean country of Seychelles on 4–5 June 1977. Between 60[1]–200[2] supporters of the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP), who had been training in Tanzania, overthrew President Sir James Mancham of the Seychelles Democratic Party (SDP) whilst he was attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, the United Kingdom.

The coup

The insurgents took control of strategic points on the main island of Mahé, where the capital Victoria is located. The central police station was seized "virtually without a shot being fired." In contrast, there was an exchange of fire at the Mont Fleuri police station, where the arsenal was kept. A policeman and one of the insurgents were killed in the fighting.[2]

The plotters arrested six British Armed Forces officers, who had been advising the Seychelles Police Force since 1976, when Seychelles gained independence from the United Kingdom. The officers and their families, as well as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Aiden O'Brien Quinn, a judge from Ireland similarly on loan by his Government, were flown to Europe.[2]

Aftermath

See also: One-party rule in Seychelles

The leader of the SPUP and Prime Minister France-Albert René, who denied knowing of the plan, was then sworn in as President and formed a new government.[1][2]

When approached by the insurgents, René was said to have accepted the Presidency on three conditions: that the safety of political individuals be guaranteed, that international agreements remain in force (including the one allowing the United States to maintain an AFSCF space tracking station in Mahé), and that elections be planned for 1978[2] (they were eventually held in 1979).[3]

A Proclamation by the coup leaders on June 13, 1977, suspended the Constitution and gave the power to make laws by decree to René. Another Proclamation on June 28, 1977, revoked the Constitution and replaced it with one that eliminated the parliament and transferred all legislative powers to the President. This extra-constitutional regime formulated another Constitution in 1979.[4]

René was the only presidential candidate for elections in 1979, in 1984, and in 1989, which he won with over 90% of the vote.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Coup by René Supporters, 1977". countrystudies.us. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  2. ^ a b c d e "SEYCHELLES CAPITAL IS CALM AFTER COUP". The New York Times. June 7, 1977. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  3. ^ Seychelles: Presidential election results under one party rule EISA
  4. ^ Jurisprudence of Successful Treason: Coup d'Etat & Common Law
  5. ^ Poupko, Eliezer S. (2017-06-25). "An exploratory study of constitutional design in three island states: Seychelles, Comoros, and Mauritius". Journal of Contemporary African Studies. 35 (3): 324–348. doi:10.1080/02589001.2017.1341624. ISSN 0258-9001. S2CID 157407977.