Central Africa, between Tanzania and Zaire
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
27,830 sq km
land area:
25,650 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total 974 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km, Zaire 233 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands
Terrain:
mostly rolling to hilly highland; some plains
Natural resources:
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxide, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not
yet exploited), vanadium
Land use:
arable land:
43%
permanent crops:
8%
meadows and pastures:
35%
forest and woodland:
2%
other:
12%
Irrigated land:
720 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
soil exhaustion and erosion; deforestation; habitat loss threatening
wildlife populations
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Note:
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed
Population:
6,124,747 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.26% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
44.02 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
21.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
113.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
40.3 years
male:
38.31 years
female:
42.35 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.69 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Burundian(s)
adjective:
Burundi
Ethnic divisions:
Africans:
Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1% (other Africans
include about 70,000 refugees, mostly Rwandans and Zairians)
non-Africans:
Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
Religions:
Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs
32%, Muslim 1%
Languages:
Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika
and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
50%
male:
61%
female:
40%
Labor force:
1.9 million (1983 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and commerce 1.5%,
services 1.5%
note:
52% of population of working age (1985)
@Burundi, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Burundi
conventional short form:
Burundi
local long form:
Republika y'u Burundi
local short form:
Burundi
Digraph:
BY
Type:
republic
Capital:
Bujumbura
Administrative divisions:
15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega,
Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana,
Ruyigi
Independence:
1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:
13 March 1992; provides for establishment of a plural political system
Legal system:
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
universal adult at age NA
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Interim President Sylvestre NTIBANTUNGANYA, Speaker of the National
Assembly, succeeded deceased President NTARYAMIRA in early April 1994
with a mandate for at least 90 days; on 11 July 1994 the mandate was
extended by the Constitutional Court for three more months at the
request of 12 political parties locked in negotiations on a new
broad-based government; elections will be held later in 1994
note:
President Melchior NDADAYE died in the military coup of 21 October
1993 and was succeeded on 5 February 1994 by President Cyprien
NTARYAMIRA, who was killed in a mysterious airplane explosion on 6
April 1994
head of government:
Prime Minister Anatole KANYENKIKO (since 7 February 1994); chosen by
the president
cabinet:
Council of Ministers ; appointed by prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):
elections last held 29 June 1993 (next to be held NA): results -
FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%; seats - (81 total) FRODIBU 65, UPRONA 16;
other parties won too small shares of the vote to win seats in the
assembly
note:
The National Unity Charter outlining the principles for constitutional
government was adopted by a national referendum on 5 February 1991
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
Unity for National Progress (UPRONA); Burundi Democratic Front
(FRODEBU); Organization of the People of Burundi (RBP); Socialist
Party of Burundi (PSB); People's Reconciliation Party (PRP)
Other political or pressure groups:
opposition parties legalized in March 1992; Burundi African Alliance
for the Salvation (ABASA); Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social
Development (RADDES)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jacques BACAMURWANKO, designated (January 1994)
chancery:
Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 342-2574
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Leonard J. LANGE
embassy:
Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address:
B. P. 34, 1720, Bujumbura
telephone:
[257] (223) 454
FAX:
[257] (222) 926
Flag:
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and
green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk
superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars
outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two
stars below)
@Burundi, Economy
Overview:
A landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of economic
development, Burundi is predominately agricultural with only a few
basic industries. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop,
which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to
pay for imports therefore continues to rest largely on the vagaries of
the climate and the international coffee market. As part of its
economic reform agenda, launched in February 1991 with IMF and World
Bank support, Burundi is trying to diversify its agricultural exports
and attract foreign investment in industry. Several state-owned coffee
companies were privatized via public auction in September 1991.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-3.8% (1991)
National product per capita:
$700 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$318 million
expenditures:
$326 million, including capital expenditures of $150 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$40.8 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides, and skins
partners:
EC 57%, US 19%, Asia 1%
Imports:
$188 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
capital goods 31%, petroleum products 15%, foodstuffs, consumer goods
partners:
EC 45%, Asia 29%, US 2%
External debt:
$970 million (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 11% (1991 est.); accounts for about 15% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
55,000 kW
production:
105 million kWh
consumption per capita:
20 kWh (1991)
Industries:
light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of
imported components; public works construction; food processing
Agriculture:
accounts for 50% of GDP; 90% of population dependent on subsistence
farming; marginally self-sufficient in food production; cash crops -
coffee, cotton, tea; food crops - corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes,
bananas, manioc; livestock - meat, milk, hides and skins
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $71 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $10.2
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $32 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $175 million
Currency:
1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1 - 247.94 (November 1993), 208.30 (1992),
181.51 (1991), 171.26 (1990), 158.67 (1989), 140.40 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Burundi, Communications
Highways:
total:
6,285 km
paved:
1,099 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone 2,500 km; improved, unimproved earth 2,686 km
(1990)
Inland waterways:
Lake Tanganyika
Ports:
Bujumbura (lake port) connects to transportation systems of Tanzania
and Zaire
Airports:
total:
5
usable:
3
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
sparse system of wire, radiocommunications, and low-capacity microwave
radio relay links; 8,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM,
1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Burundi, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,315,660; fit for military service 687,474; reach
military age (16) annually 67,949 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $28 million, 3.7% of GDP (1989)
@Cambodia, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand
and Vietnam
Map references:
Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
181,040 sq km
land area:
176,520 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries:
total 2,572 km, Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline:
443 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
offshore islands and sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in
dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined; parts of border
with Thailand in dispute; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly
defined
Climate:
tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to October); dry season (December
to March); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Natural resources:
timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower
potential
Land use:
arable land:
16%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
3%
forest and woodland:
76%
other:
4%
Irrigated land:
920 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in
particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural
fisheries)
natural hazards:
monsoonal rains (June to November)
international agreements:
party to - Marine Life Conservation; signed, but not ratified -
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Note:
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle
Sap
@Cambodia, People
Population:
10,264,628 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.87% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
45.09 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
16.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
110.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
49.26 years
male:
47.8 years
female:
50.8 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.81 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Cambodian(s)
adjective:
Cambodian
Ethnic divisions:
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:
Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%
Languages:
Khmer (official), French
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
35%
male:
48%
female:
22%
Labor force:
2.5 million to 3 million
by occupation:
agriculture 80% (1988 est.)
@Cambodia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form:
Cambodia
local long form:
Reacheanachak Kampuchea
local short form:
Kampuchea
Digraph:
CB
Type:
multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy
established in September 1993
Capital:
Phnom Penh
Administrative divisions:
20 provinces (khet, singular and plural); Banteay Meanchey,
Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum,
Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Phnum Penh,
Pouthisat, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanokiri, Siemreab-Otdar
Meanchey, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
Independence:
9 November 1949 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 November 1949
Constitution:
promulgated September 1993
Legal system:
currently being defined
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated NA September 1993)
head of government:
power shared between First Prime Minister Prince Norodom RANARIDDH and
Second Prime Minister HUN SEN
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; elected by the National Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral; a 120-member constituent assembly based on proportional
representation within each province was establised following the
UN-supervised election in May 1993; the constituent assembly was
transformed into a legislature in September 1993 after delegates
promulgated the constitution
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court established under the constitution has not yet been
established and the future judicial system is yet to be defined by law
Political parties and leaders:
National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and
Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) under Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH;
Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party (CPP) under
CHEA SIM; Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party under SON SANN; Democratic
Kampuchea (DK, also known as the Khmer Rouge) under KHIEU SAMPHAN
Member of:
ACCT (observer), AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
Ambassador SISOWATH SIRIRATH represents Cambodia at the United Nations
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
embassy:
27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address:
Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone:
(855) 23-26436 or (855) 23-26438
FAX:
(855) 23-26437
Flag:
horizontal band of red separates two equal horizontal bands of blue
with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat in the
center
@Cambodia, Economy
Overview:
The Cambodian economy - virtually destroyed by decades of war - is
slowly recovering. Government leaders are moving toward restoring
fiscal and monetary discipline and have established good working
relations with international financial institutions. Despite such
positive developments, the reconstruction effort faces many tough
challenges. Rural Cambodia, where 90% of almost ten million Khmer
live, remains mired in poverty. The almost total lack of basic
infrastructure in the countryside will hinder development and will
contribute to a growing imbalance in growth between urban and rural
areas over the near term. Moreover, the new government's lack of
experience in administering economic and technical assistance
programs, and rampant corruption among officials, will slow the growth
of critical public sector investment. Inflation for 1993 as a whole
was 60%, less than a quarter of the 1992 rate, and was declining
during the year. The government hoped the rate would fall to 10% in
early 1994.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
7.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$600 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
60% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$350 million
expenditures:
$350 million, including capital expenditures of $133 million (1994
est.)
Exports:
$70 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
natural rubber, rice, pepper, raw timber
partners:
Thailand, Japan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Vietnam
Imports:
$360 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
international food aid; fuels, consumer goods, machinery
partners:
Japan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Vietnam
External debt:
total outstanding bilateral official debt to OECD members $248 million
(yearend 1991), plus 840 million ruble debt to former CEMA countries
Industrial production:
growth rate 15.6% (year NA); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
35,000 kW
production:
70 million kWh
consumption per capita:
9 kWh (1990)
Industries:
rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem
mining
Agriculture:
accounts for 50% of GDP; mainly subsistence farming except for rubber
plantations; main crops - rice, rubber, corn; food shortages - rice,
meat, vegetables, dairy products, sugar, flour
Illicit drugs:
secondary transshipment country for heroin produced in the Golden
Triangle
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $725 million; Western
(non-US countries) (1970-89), $300 million; Communist countries
(1970-89), $1.8 billion; donor countries and multilateral institutions
pledged $880 million in assistance in 1992
Currency:
1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen
Exchange rates:
riels (CR) per US$1 - 2,390 (December 1993), 2,800 (September 1992),
500 (December 1991), 560 (1990), 159.00 (1988), 100.00 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Cambodia, Communications
Railroads:
612 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned
Highways:
total:
13,351 km (some roads in serious disrepair)
paved:
bituminous 2,622 km
unpaved:
crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth 7,105 km; unimproved earth
3,624 km
Inland waterways:
3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 meters; 282 km
navigable to craft drawing 1.8 meters
Ports:
Kampong Saom, Phnom Penh
Airports:
total:
20
usable:
13
with permanent-surface runways:
6
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
8
Telecommunications:
service barely adequate for government requirements and virtually
nonexistent for general public; international service limited to
Vietnam and other adjacent countries; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no
FM, 1 TV
@Cambodia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Khmer Royal Armed Forces (KRAF):
created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces
and the two non-Communist resistance armies; note - the KRAF is also
known as the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)
Resistance forces:
National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,182,912; fit for military service 1,217,357; reach
military age (18) annually 67,463 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Cameroon, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Equatorial
Guinea and Nigeria
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
475,440 sq km
land area:
469,440 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total 4,591 km, Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Congo
523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Coastline:
402 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
50 nm
International disputes:
demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of
which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and
awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; boundary
commission, created with Nigeria to discuss unresolved land and
maritime boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula, has not
yet convened, but a commission was formed in January 1994 to study a
flare-up of the dispute
Climate:
varies with terrain from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in
north
Terrain:
diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center,
mountains in west, plains in north
Natural resources:
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land:
13%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
18%
forest and woodland:
54%
other:
13%
Irrigated land:
280 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing;
desertification; poaching
natural hazards:
recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Nuclear Test Ban
Note:
sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
@Cameroon, People
Population:
13,132,191 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.91% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
40.53 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
11.41 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
77.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
57.07 years
male:
55.03 years
female:
59.17 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.84 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Cameroonian(s)
adjective:
Cameroonian
Ethnic divisions:
Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%,
Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%,
non-African less than 1%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%
Languages:
24 major African language groups, English (official), French
(official)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
55%
male:
66%
female:
45%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%, other services 14.2%
(1983)
note:
50% of population of working age (15-64 years) (1985)
@Cameroon, Government