despite their differences, the two parties formed a coalition under mancham to lead seychelles to independence. five members from each party were added to the legislative assembly in an attempt to equalise political representation. one year later, britain granted the colony complete independence, and on 29 june 1976, the republic of seychelles became a sovereign nation, with mancham as president and rené as vice-president. as a gesture of goodwill, britain returned île desroches, the aldabra islands, and the farquhar islands. in addition, britain made a series of grants to the new nation to smooth the transition to an independent economy. both parties agreed to support the coalition government until elections were held in 1979.