James Mancham

The first President of the Republic of Seychelles (1976–1977) after gaining independence from the UK in 1976, founder and leader of Seychelles Democratic Party. In 1977, he was overthrown in a coup, his party was banned, and he was forced to live in exile in Great Britain. After the dissolution of the Soviet-sponsored one party political system in 1991, he returned to his country and became politically active again.