Sir James Mancham

(Founding President of the Seychelles)

Biography

Sir James Richard Marie Mancham was the Honorary Founding President of the Republic of Seychelles Islands from 1976 to 1977. Sir James is also an Officer de la Legion d’Honneur of France and the President of the Global Peace Council of the Universal Peace Federation. He is also involved in the Inter-religious organizations with the objective of world peace.

Academic Career

Sir Mancham studied law in London, and was called to the Bar (Middle Temple, London) in 1961. He also attended International Institute of Labour Studies, Geneva in 1968.

Political Career

While serving as Barrister and Attorney-at-Law before Supreme Court of Seychelles (1963 to 1967), Mr Mancham founded the Seychelles Democratic Party (S.D.P) in 1964. After Britain gave independence to the nation, Sir James Mancham was elected as the First Chief Minister and was then elected as President in 1976. 

After a coup d’état staged by his political opponent on 5th June 1977 Sir Mancham was forced to live in exile for fifteen years in the UK, where he became a successful businessman. In 1992 he returned to the Seychelles and made it his priority to restore the economy, national peace and reconciliation. A new constitution was drafted and the Seychelles became a multi–party democracy.  Mr. Mancham was one of the many officials in Geneva to launch the World Future Council (W.F.C.). As a member of numerous other international peace organizations, he has been engaged in the promotion of peace in nations like Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Serbia, and many in the Middle East. He is also President of Seychelles First Movement, a Non–Governmental-Organization and often attends conferences organized by the World Association of Non–Governmental Organisations (W.A.N.G.O). He is actively involved in promoting Seychelles tourism and proposed the building of an international airport, which soon improved the economy.

Publications

Si James Mancham has written a number of books, some of which include: Paradise Raped, War on American seen from the Indian Ocean, Adages and Piece of Mind. His autobiography, Seychelles Global Citizen: The Autobiography of the Founding President of the Republic of Seychelles, has been a major success.

Awards and achievements

Mr. Mancham received the prestigious International Jurists Award for world peace at the International Conference of Jurists 2010, and the Gusi Peace Prize in 2011. He has also been awarded the Medal of the City of Pusan in the Republic of Korea and the Quaid – I Azam of Pakistan.