conventional long form:
Republic of Colombia
conventional short form:
Colombia
local long form:
Republica de Colombia
local short form:
Colombia
Digraph:
CO
Type:
republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:
Bogota
Administrative divisions:
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital
district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico,
Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar,
Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira,
Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio,
Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle
del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Independence:
20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution:
5 July 1991
Legal system:
based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures
was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo (since 7 August 1990);
President-designate Juan Manuel SANTOS (since NA 1993); election last
held 27 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - Cesar GAVIRIA
Trujillo (Liberal Party) 47%, Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado (National Salvation
Movement) 24%, Antonio NAVARRO Wolff (AD/M-19) 13%, Rodrigo LLOREDA
(Conservative Party) 12%
note:
a new government will be inaugurated on 7 August 1994; the
presidential election of 29 May 1994 resulted in no candidate
receiving more than 50% of the total vote and a run-off election to
select a president from the two leading candidates was held on 19 June
1994; results - Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres
PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party) 48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto
de la CALLE was elected vice president; electing a vice president is a
new proceedure that replaces the traditional appointment of
president-designates by newly elected presidents
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress (Congreso)
Senate (Senado):
elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998);
preliminary results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (102 total)
Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 31, other
12
House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes):
elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998);
preliminary results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (161 total)
Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 53,
AD/M-19 2, other 17
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical), Constitutional
Court, Council of State
Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Party (PL), Ernesto SAMPER Pizano, president; Conservative
Party (PC), Misael PASTRANA Borrero; National Salvation Movement
(MSN), Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado; New Democratic Force (NDF), Andres
PASTRANA Arango; Democratic Alliance M-19 (AD/M-19) is a coalition of
small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives;
Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed by
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian Communist
Party (PCC), Carlos ROMERO
Other political or pressure groups:
three insurgent groups are active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC), Manuel MARULANDA and Alfonso CANO; National
Liberation Army (ELN), Manuel PEREZ; and dissidents of the recently
demobilized People's Liberation Army (EPL), Francisco CARABALLO;
Francisco CARABALLO was captured by the government in June 1994
Member of:
AG, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS,
ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR,
UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Gabriel SILVA
chancery:
2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 387-8338
FAX:
(202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington
consulate(s):
Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Tampa
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Morris D. BUSBY
embassy:
Calle 38, No. 8-61, Bogota
mailing address:
Apartado Aereo 3831, Bogota or APO AA 34038
telephone:
[57] (1) 320-1300
FAX:
[57] (1) 288-5687
consulate(s):
Barranquilla
Flag:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red;
similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the
Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
@Colombia, Economy
Overview:
Colombia's economic growth has recovered steadily since 1991 as
President GAVIRIA'S sweeping economic reform measures have taken hold.
Market reforms have included trade and investment liberalization,
labor and tax overhauls and bureaucratic streamlining, among other
things. Furthermore, conservative fiscal and monetary policies have
helped to steadily reduce inflation to 23% and unemployment to about
7% in 1993. The rapid development of oil, coal, and other
nontraditional industries has helped offset the decline in coffee
prices. A major oil find in 1993 in eastern Colombia may provide an
extra $3 billion annually to the economy by 1997. Increased foreign
investment and even greater domestic activity have been hampered,
however, by a troublesome rural insurgency, a decrepit energy and
transportation infrastructure, and drug-related violence. Agriculture
also has encountered problems in adjusting to fewer subsidies, greater
competition, and the collapse of the international coffee agreement,
which has kept world coffee prices at near-record lows in 1991-93.
Business construction was a leading sector in 1993. The substantial
trade deficit in 1993 was the result of a strong peso that inhibited
exports and a liberalized government policy that spurred imports.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $192 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5.1% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$5,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
22.6% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$11 billion
expenditures:
$12 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (1993
est.)
Exports:
$6.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers
partners:
US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)
Imports:
$6.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,
chemicals, paper products
partners:
US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)
External debt:
$17 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2% (1993 est.); accounts for 21% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
10,193,000 kW
production:
36 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
1,050 kWh (1992)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages,
chemicals, metal products, cement; mining - gold, coal, emeralds,
iron, nickel, silver, salt
Agriculture:
growth rate 2.7% (1993 est.) accounts for 21% of GDP; crops make up
two-thirds and livestock one-third of agricultural output; climate and
soils permit a wide variety of crops, such as coffee, rice, tobacco,
corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseeds, vegetables; forest products
and shrimp farming are becoming more important
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of coca, opium, and cannabis; about 37,100 hectares
of coca under cultivation; the world's largest processor of coca
derivatives into cocaine in 1992; supplier of cocaine to the US and
other international drug markets
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.6 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.3
billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $399 million
Currency:
1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 921.20 (January 1994), 863.06
(1993), 759.28 (1992), 633.05 (1991), 502.26 (1990), 382.57 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Colombia, Communications
Railroads:
3,386 km; 3,236 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track (2,611 km in use),
150 km 1.435-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
128,717 km (1989)
paved:
10,330 km
unpaved:
gravel/earth 118,387 km
Inland waterways:
14,300 km, navigable by river boats
Pipelines:
crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km;
natural gas liquids 125 km
Ports:
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, San Andres, Santa
Marta, Tumaco
Merchant marine:
27 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 211,777 GRT/335,763 DWT, bulk 7,
cargo 11, container 6, oil tanker 3
Airports:
total:
1,369
usable:
1,156
with permanent-surface runways:
73
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-2,659 m:
9
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
205
Telecommunications:
nationwide radio relay system; 1,890,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 413 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 28 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth stations and 11 domestic satellite earth stations
@Colombia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marines),
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia
Nacional)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 9,639,080; fit for military service 6,507,935; reach
military age (18) annually 354,944 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1992 est.)
@Comoros, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Africa, in the extreme northern Mozambique Channel, about
two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern
Mozambique
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
2,170 sq km
land area:
2,170 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
340 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims French-administered Mayotte
Climate:
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain:
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
35%
permanent crops:
8%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
16%
other:
34%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
soil degradation and erosion; deforestation
natural hazards:
cyclones possible during rainy season
international agreements:
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the
Sea
Note:
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
@Comoros, People
Population:
530,136 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.55% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
46.48 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
79.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
57.81 years
male:
55.63 years
female:
60.06 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.79 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Comoran(s)
adjective:
Comoran
Ethnic divisions:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and
Arabic)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
48%
male:
56%
female:
40%
Labor force:
140,000 (1982)
by occupation:
agriculture 80%, government 3%
note:
51% of population of working age (1985)
@Comoros, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
conventional short form:
Comoros
local long form:
Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
local short form:
Comores
Digraph:
CN
Type:
independent republic
Capital:
Moroni
Administrative divisions:
three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli
(Mwali)
note:
there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and
Mutsamudu
Independence:
6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:
7 June 1992
Legal system:
French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state::
President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990); election last
held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results - Said
Mohamed DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%
head of government::
Prime Minister Mohamed Abdou MADI (since 6 January 1994) appointed by
President DJOHAR 6 January 1994 (DJOHAR has appointed 14 prime
ministers in the last three years)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale):
elections last held 12-20 December 1993 (next to be held by NA January
1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total)
Ruling Coalition: RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; Opposition: UDZIMA 8,
other smaller parties 10; 2 seats remained unfilled
note:
opposition is boycotting the National Assembly until the government
promises to investigate fraud in the last election
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
over 20 political parties are currently active, the most important of
which are; Comoran Union for Progress (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Islands'
Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; Comoran Party for
Democracy and Progress (PCDP), Ali MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom's
Capability (UWEZO), Mouazair ABDALLAH; Democratic Front of the Comoros
(FDR), Moustapha CHELKH; Dialogue Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA),
Said MCHAWGAMA; Rally for Change and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan
HACHIM; Union for Democracy and Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki
Halidi IBRAHAM; Rally for Democracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular
Front (FPC), Mohamed HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou
MOUSTAKIM (Secretary General)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN
chancery:
(temporary) at the Comoran Permanent Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th
Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone:
(212) 972-8010
FAX:
(212) 983-4712
US diplomatic representation:
none; post closed in September 1993
Flag:
green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of the
crescent points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag); there are
four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of
the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional
symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of
the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (which is a
territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by the Comoros)
@Comoros, Economy
Overview:
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several
islands that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly
increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational
level of the labor force contributes to a low level of economic
activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants
and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and
forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to
GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports.
The country is not self-sufficient in food production, and rice, the
main staple, accounts for 90% of imports. During 1982-86 the
industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 5.3%, but its
contribution to GDP is small. Despite major investment in the tourist
industry, which accounts for about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated
since 1983. A sluggish growth rate of 1.5% during 1985-90 has led to
large budget deficits, declining incomes, and balance-of-payments
difficulties. Estimates for 1992 show a moderate increase in the
growth rate based on increased exports, tourism, and government
investment outlays.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $360 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$700 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
over 15.9% (1989)
Budget:
revenues:
$96 million
expenditures:
$88 million, including capital expenditures of $33 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$21 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra, ylang-ylang
partners:
US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2% (1988)
Imports:
$60 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods
partners:
Europe 62% (France 22%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China (1988)
External debt:
$160 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -6.5% (1989 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
16,000 kW
production:
25 million kWh
consumption per capita:
50 kWh (1991)
Industries:
perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction
materials, soft drinks
Agriculture:
accounts for 40% of GDP; most of population works in subsistence
agriculture and fishing; plantations produce cash crops for export -
vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra; principal food crops -
coconuts, bananas, cassava; world's leading producer of essence of
ylang-ylang (for perfumes) and second-largest producer of vanilla;
large net food importer
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $435
million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $18 million
Currency:
1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 444.03 (January 1994), 254.57 (1993),
264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989)
note:
beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to 75 per
French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been fixed since
1948
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Comoros, Communications
Highways:
total:
750 km
paved:
bituminous 210 km
unpaved:
crushed stone, gravel 540 km
Ports:
Mutsamudu, Moroni
Airports:
total:
4
usable:
4
with permanent-surface runways:
4
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
3
Telecommunications:
sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication
stations for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and
Reunion; over 1,800 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV
@Comoros, Defense Forces
Branches:
Comoran Defense Force (FDC)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 112,918; fit for military service 67,522
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Congo, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Gabon and
Zaire
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
342,000 sq km
land area:
341,500 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total 5,504 km, Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African
Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km
Coastline:
169 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
long segment of boundary with Zaire along the Congo River is
indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October);
constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating
climate astride the Equator
Terrain:
coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates,
natural gas
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
29%
forest and woodland:
62%
other:
7%
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping
of raw sewage; deforestation
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Tropical Timber; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
Note:
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or
along the railroad between them
@Congo, People
Population:
2,446,902 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.38% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
40.27 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
16.49 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
111 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
47.56 years
male:
45.76 years
female:
49.41 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.3 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Congolese or Congo
Ethnic divisions:
south:
Kongo 48%
north:
Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%
center:
Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)
Religions:
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages:
French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo are the most
widely used)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
57%
male:
70%
female:
44%
Labor force:
79,100 wage earners
by occupation:
agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25%
note:
51% of population of working age; 40% of population economically
active (1985)
@Congo, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of the Congo
conventional short form:
Congo
local long form:
Republique Populaire du Congo
local short form:
Congo
former:
Congo/Brazzaville
Digraph:
CF
Type:
republic
Capital:
Brazzaville
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,
Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux,
Pool, Sangha
Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution:
new constitution approved by referendum March 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992); election last held 2-16
August 1992 (next to be held August 1997); results - President Pascal
LISSOUBA won with 61% of the vote
head of government:
Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO (since 23 June 1993)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; named by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):
election last held 3 October 1993; results - percentage vote by party
NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3
Senate:
election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held July 1998); results -
percentage vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) UPADS 23, MCDDI 14,
RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president;
Pan-African Union for Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA,
leader; Association for Democracy and Development (RDD) - Joachim
Yhombi OPANGO, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and
Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Association for
Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA,
president; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO,
leader; Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael
BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader
note:
Congo has many political parties of which these are among the most
important
Other political or pressure groups:
Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union
Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General
Union of Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pierre Damien BOUSSOUKOU-BOUMBA
chancery:
4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:
(202) 726-5500 or 5501
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William RAMSEY
embassy:
Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
mailing address:
B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone:
(242) 83-20-70
FAX:
[242] 83-63-38
Flag:
red, divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band;
the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is
red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Congo, Economy