Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army
(includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air
Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne
Royale Marocaine) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,152,580
females age 16-49: 9,080,830 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,779,589
females age 16-49: 7,881,024 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 356,014
female: 343,520 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
5% of GDP (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Transnational Issues ::Morocco
Disputes - international:
claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains
unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since
September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and
parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco
protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta,
Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de
Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions
have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation,
setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction,
since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of
a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the
primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North
Africa
Illicit drugs:
one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments
of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for
cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant
consumer of cannabis
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Mozambique (Africa)
Introduction ::Mozambique
Background:
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with
independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on
South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered
the country's development until the mid 1990's. The ruling Front for
the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned
Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided
for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated
peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National
Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December
2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO
stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor,
Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound economic
policies that have encouraged foreign investment. Mozambique has
seen very strong economic growth since the end of the civil war
largely due to post-conflict reconstruction.
Geography ::Mozambique
Location:
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South
Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 799,380 sq km
country comparison to the world: 35
land: 786,380 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,571 km
border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland
105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:
2,470 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical to subtropical
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in
northwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources:
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use:
arable land: 5.43%
permanent crops: 0.29%
other: 94.28% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,180 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
216 cu km (1992)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.63 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%)
per capita: 32 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and
southern provinces
Environment - current issues:
a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have
resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and
coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant
poaching for ivory is a problem
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of
the country
People ::Mozambique
Population:
21,669,278
country comparison to the world: 52
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997
Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2009
est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 4,829,272/female 4,773,209)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 5,605,227/female 5,842,679)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 257,119/female 361,772) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.4 years
male: 17 years
female: 17.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.791% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Birth rate:
37.98 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Death rate:
20.07 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 105.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 7
male: 108.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 103 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.18 years
country comparison to the world: 220
male: 41.83 years
female: 40.53 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.18 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
12.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.5 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
81,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:
African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans
0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions:
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%,
none 23.1% (1997 census)
Languages:
Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken
by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena
6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign
languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 75
Government ::Mozambique
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Maputo
geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*;
Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*,
Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:
30 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 28 October 2009
(next to be held in 2014); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Armando GUEBUZA relected president; percent of
vote - Armando GUEBUZA 76.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 14.9%, Daviz SIMANGO
8.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held on 28
October 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO
29.7%, other 8.3%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professional
judges are appointed by the president, and some are elected by the
Assembly); other courts include an Administrative Court,
Constitutional Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts
marshal, labor courts
Political parties and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de
Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA]; Mozambique National
Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Afonso
DHLAKAMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos
Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Todd C.
CHAPMAN
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone: [258] (21) 492797
FAX: [258] (21) 490114
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with
a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is
edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed
star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an
open white book
Economy ::Mozambique
Economy - overview:
At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest
countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from
1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarked
on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the
economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with
political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have
led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflation
was reduced to single digits during the late 1990s, and although it
returned to double digits in 2000-06, in 2007 inflation had slowed
to 8%, while GDP growth reached 7.5%. Fiscal reforms, including the
introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service,
have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In
spite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign
assistance for much of its annual budget, and the majority of the
population remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture
continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force. A
substantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of the
Mozal aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment
project to date, has increased export earnings. At the end of 2007,
and after years of negotiations, the government took over Portugal's
majority share of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity (HCB) company, a
dam that was not transferred to Mozambique at independence because
of the ensuing civil war and unpaid debts. More power is needed for
additional investment projects in titanium extraction and processing
and garment manufacturing that could further close the import/export
gap. Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced
through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is
now at a manageable level. In July 2007 the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) signed a Compact with Mozambique; the Compact
entered into force in September 2008 and will continue for five
years. Compact projects will focus on improving sanitation, roads,
agriculture, and the business regulation environment in an effort to
spur economic growth in the four northern provinces of the country.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$19.11 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$17.89 billion (2007 est.)
$16.66 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.897 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
7.4% (2007 est.)
8.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
$900 (2007 est.)
$800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.5%
industry: 30.9%
services: 45.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
9.65 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 81%
industry: 6%
services: 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Population below poverty line:
70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 39.2% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.3 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 34
39.6 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Budget:
revenues: $2.801 billion
expenditures: $3.28 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
21.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
22.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
8.2% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.95% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 43
9.95% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18.31% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 17
19.52% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.406 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 79
$1.261 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.752 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 85
$1.467 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.315 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
$877.2 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn,
coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers;
beef, poultry
Industries:
food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum,
petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Electricity - production:
15.91 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Electricity - consumption:
10.16 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - exports:
11.82 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.278 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Oil - imports:
13,760 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - production:
3.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - consumption:
100 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - exports:
3.2 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - proved reserves:
127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Current account balance:
-$975.3 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
-$785.3 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$2.653 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
$2.412 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk
electricity
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 55.5%, South Africa 9.2%, Zimbabwe 2.1% (2008)
Imports:
$3.458 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$2.811 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
South Africa 27.4%, Netherlands 15.7%, China 4.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.578 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$1.445 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.826 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$4.189 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 24.125 (2008 est.), 26.264 (2007),
25.4 (2006), 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004)
note: in 2006 Mozambique revalued its currency, with 1000 old
meticais equal to 1 new meticais
Communications ::Mozambique
Telephones - main lines in use:
78,300 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 150
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.405 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 92
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system with an extremely low density of
less than 1 fixed line per 100 persons
domestic: the telecommunications sector is shackled with a heavy
state presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and
charges; stagnation in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapid
growth in the mobile-cellular network; mobile-cellular coverage now
includes all the main cities and key roads, including those from
Maputo to the South African and Swaziland borders, the national
highway through Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor,
and from Nampula to Nacala
international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (2008)
Internet country code:
.mz
Internet hosts:
21,388 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 103
Internet users:
350,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 119
Transportation ::Mozambique
Airports:
105 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 55
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 82
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 39 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 918 km; refined products 278 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 4,787 km
country comparison to the world: 37
narrow gauge: 4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 30,400 km
country comparison to the world: 96
paved: 5,685 km
unpaved: 24,715 km (2000)
Waterways:
460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake)
(2008)
country comparison to the world: 85
Merchant marine:
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 147
by type: cargo 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Beira, Maputo, Nacala
Military ::Mozambique
Military branches:
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique
Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de
Mocambique, FAM) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
19-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age
for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,545,975 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,366,897
females age 16-49: 2,209,764 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 263,994
female: 265,058 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 149
Transnational Issues ::Mozambique
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Mozambique is a source and, to a much lesser
extent, a destination country for men, women, and children
trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation;
the use of forced and bonded child laborers is a common practice in
Mozambique's rural areas; women and girls are trafficked from rural
to urban areas of Mozambique, as well as to South Africa, for
domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; young men and
boys are trafficked to South Africa for farm work and mining
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for the second consecutive year,
Mozambique is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide
evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007;
while the government conducted investigations into cases of human
trafficking, there were no prosecutions or convictions of
traffickers; government efforts to protect victims of trafficking
continued to suffer from limited resources and a lack of political
commitment (2008)
Illicit drugs:
southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and heroin,
and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and
South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption)
and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor
regulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to money
laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial
infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering
center
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Namibia (Africa)
Introduction ::Namibia
Background: