Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and
geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The
fishing catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported
to France and Reunion.
Budget:
revenues:
$17.5 million
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
@French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 441,962 GRT/813,779 DWT, bulk 3,
cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, liquified gas 2, multifunction large load
carrier 1, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo
4
note:
a captive subset of the French register
Telecommunications:
NA
@French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
@Gabon, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator between
the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
267,670 sq km
land area:
257,670 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total 2,551 km, Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350
km
Coastline:
885 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed
sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Climate:
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Natural resources:
petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
18%
forest and woodland:
78%
other:
2%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; poaching
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed,
but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
@Gabon, People
Population:
1,139,006 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.46% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
28.46 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
13.9 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
94.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
54.67 years
male:
51.88 years
female:
57.53 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.97 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Gabonese
Ethnic divisions:
Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira,
Bapounou, Bateke), Africans and Europeans 100,000, including 27,000
French
Religions:
Christian 55-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist
Languages:
French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
61%
male:
74%
female:
48%
Labor force:
120,000 salaried
by occupation:
agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%, services 2.5%,
government 2.5%
note:
58% of population of working age (1983)
@Gabon, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Gabonese Republic
conventional short form:
Gabon
local long form:
Republique Gabonaise
local short form:
Gabon
Digraph:
GB
Type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized
1990)
Capital:
Libreville
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,
Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:
17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese Democratic Party
established)
Constitution:
adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967); election last
held on 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - President
Omar BONGO was reelected with 51% of the vote
head of government:
Prime Minister Casimir OYE-MBA (since 3 May 1990)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):
elections last held on 21 and 28 October and 4 November 1990 (next to
be held by NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120
total) PDG 62, Morena-Bucherons/RNB 19, PGP 18, National Recovery
Movement (Morena-Original) 7, APSG 6, USG 4, CRP 1, independents 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former sole party), Jaques ADIAHENOT,
Secretary General; National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks
(Morena-Bucherons/RNB), Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE, leader; Gabonese Party
for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-OKAWE, President; National
Recovery Movement (Morena-Original), Pierre ZONGUE-NGUEMA, Chairman;
Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG), leader NA; Gabonese
Socialist Union (USG), leader NA; Circle for Renewal and Progress
(CRP), leader NA; Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), leader
NA; Rally of Democrats (RD), leader NA; Forces of Change for
Democratic Union, leader NA
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAU,
OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA
chancery:
2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 797-1000
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Joseph C. WILSON IV
embassy:
Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
mailing address:
B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone:
(241) 762003/4, or 743492
FAX:
[241] 745-507
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
@Gabon, Economy
Overview:
Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic problems, Gabon enjoys a
per capita income more than twice that of most nations of sub-Saharan
Africa. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was
discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts
for 50% of GNP. Real growth was feeble in 1992 and Gabon continues to
face weak prices for its timber, manganese, and uranium exports.
Despite an abundance of natural wealth, and a manageable rate of
population growth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management.
In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed
to settled arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of
rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors.
Devaluation of the local currency by 50% in January 1994 could set off
an inflationary spiral if the government fails to reign in spending
and grants large wage increases to an already overpaid public sector
workforce.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
0.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,800 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$1.3 billion
expenditures:
$1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $272 million (1992
est.)
Exports:
$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est)
commodities:
crude oil 80%, timber 9%, manganese 7%, uranium 2%
partners:
France 48%, US 15%, Germany 2%, Japan 2%
Imports:
$702 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products, construction
materials, manufactures, machinery
partners:
France 64%, African countries 7%, US 5%, Japan 3%
External debt:
$4.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate -10% (1988 est.); accounts for 8% of GDP, including
petroleum
Electricity:
capacity:
315,000 kW
production:
995 million kWh
consumption per capita:
920 kWh (1991)
Industries:
petroleum, food and beverages, lumbering and plywood, textiles, mining
- manganese, uranium, gold, cement
Agriculture:
accounts for 9% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); cash crops -
cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock not developed; importer of food;
small fishing operations provide a catch of about 20,000 metric tons;
okoume (a tropical softwood) is the most important timber product
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $68 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90),
$2.342 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million
Currency:
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05
(January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26
(1990), 319.01 (1989)
note:
beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per
French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Gabon, Communications
Railroads:
649 km 1.437-meter standard-gauge single track (Transgabonese
Railroad)
Highways:
total:
7,500 km
paved:
560 km
unpaved:
crushed stone 960 km; earth 5,980 km
Inland waterways:
1,600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Ports:
Owendo, Port-Gentil, Libreville
Merchant marine:
2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,562 GRT/25,330 DWT
Airports:
total:
70
usable:
59
with permanent-surface runways:
10
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
22
Telecommunications:
adequate system of cable, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and
radiocommunication stations; 15,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6
AM, 6 FM, 3 (5 repeaters) TV; satellite earth stations - 3 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT and 12 domestic satellite
@Gabon, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie,
National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 270,501; fit for military service 136,995; reach
military age (20) annually 10,107 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $102 million, 3.2% of GDP (1990 est.)
@The Gambia, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely
surrounded by Senegal
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
11,300 sq km
land area:
10,000 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total 740 km, Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
18 nm
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season
(November to May)
Terrain:
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land:
16%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
9%
forest and woodland:
20%
other:
55%
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
natural hazards:
rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last thirty years
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change
Note:
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of
Africa
@The Gambia, People
Population:
959,300 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.08% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
46.39 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
15.64 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
123.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
50.08 years
male:
47.83 years
female:
52.39 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Gambian(s)
adjective:
Gambian
Ethnic divisions:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%,
other 4%), non-Gambian 1%
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous
vernaculars
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
27%
male:
39%
female:
16%
Labor force:
400,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government
6.1%
note:
55% population of working age (1983)
@The Gambia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form:
The Gambia
Digraph:
GA
Type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
Banjul
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North
Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence:
18 February 1965 (from UK; The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement
on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose
confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was
dissolved on 30 September 1989)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:
24 April 1970
Legal system:
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary
law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice
President Saihou SABALLY (since NA); election last held on 29 April
1992 (next to be held April 1997); results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP)
58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0%
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the House of
Representatives
Legislative branch:
unicameral
House of Representatives:
elections last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997);
results - PPP 58.1%, seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general;
National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; Gambian People's Party
(GPP), Hassan Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's
Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader
NA; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH
chancery:
Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
(202) 785-1399, 1379, or 1425
FAX:
(202) 785-1430
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy:
Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
mailing address:
P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone:
[220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971
FAX:
(220) 92475
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and
green
@The Gambia, Economy
Overview:
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has
a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest
countries with a per capita income of roughly $800. About 75% of the
population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which
contribute 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing
peanuts, fish, and hides - accounts for less than 10% of GDP. A
sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade
policy, has fostered a respectable 4% rate of growth in recent years.
Re-export trade constitutes one-third of economic activity; however,
border closures associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993
led to a 50% decline in re-export trade, reducing government revenues
in turn. Devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made
Senegalese goods more competitive, and is likely to prompt a
relaxation of Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in
re-exports.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $740 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4.5% (FY92 est)
National product per capita:
$800 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (FY 92 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$94 million
expenditures:
$80 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$164 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.)
commodities:
peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
partners:
Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)
Imports:
$214 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport
equipment
partners:
Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 9%, US 6%, other 3%
(1989)
External debt:
$336 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.7% (year NA); accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)
Electricity:
capacity:
30,000 kW
production:
65 million kWh
consumption per capita:
75 kWh (1991)
Industries:
peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery
assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Agriculture:
accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population;
imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts;
other principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm
kernels; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; forestry and fishing
resources not fully exploited
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $535
million; Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million
Currency:
1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut
Exchange rates:
dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.440 (November 1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803
(1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
@The Gambia, Communications
Highways:
total:
3,083 km
paved:
431 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone 501 km; unimproved earth 2,151 km
Inland waterways:
400 km
Ports:
Banjul
Merchant marine:
1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,194 GRT/19,394 DWT
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
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:
adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; broadcast
stations - 3 AM, 2 FM; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@The Gambia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 207,754; fit for military service 105,100
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Gaza Strip
Header
Note:
The war between Israel and Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in June 1967 ended
with Israel in control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza
Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. Israel withdrew
from the Sinai Peninsula pursuant to a 1979 peace treaty with Egypt.
The Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,
provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of
Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. Under the DOP, final status negotiations are to begin no later
than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.
@Gaza Strip, Geography
Location:
Middle East, bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt
and Israel
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total area:
360 sq km
land area:
360 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total 62 km, Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
Israeli occupied with status to be determined
International disputes:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with interim status
subject to Israeli/Palestinian negotiations - final status to be
determined
Climate:
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
13%
permanent crops:
32%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
55%
Irrigated land:
200 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
desertification
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
there are 24 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the
Gaza Strip (April 1994)
@Gaza Strip, People
Population:
731,296 (July 1994 est.)
note:
in addition, there are 4,500 Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip (1994
est.)
Population growth rate:
3.53% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
45.01 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
5.45 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
36.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.78 years
male:
66.47 years
female:
69.16 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.39 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
NA
adjective:
NA
Ethnic divisions:
Palestinian Arab and other 99.8%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.3%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English (widely
understood)
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
construction 33.4%, agriculture 20.0%, commerce, restaurants, and
hotels 14.9%, industry 10.0%, other services 21.7% (1991)
note:
excluding Jewish settlers
@Gaza Strip, Government
Note:
Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arragements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer
certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, and
subsequently to an elected Palestinian Council, as part of interim
self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A
transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho
has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement
on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. The DOP provides that Israel
will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external
security and for internal security and public order of settlements and
Israelis. Final status is to be determined through direct negotiations
within five years.
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Gaza Strip
local long form:
none
local short form:
Qita Ghazzah
Digraph:
GZ
@Gaza Strip, Economy