Railways:
total: 3,380 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines
to maritime port at Bahia de Portete)
narrow gauge: 3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995)
Highways:
total: 115,564 km
paved: 13,868 km
unpaved: 101,696 km (1997 est.)
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 and harbors: Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura,
Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco,
Turbo
Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 64,7575 GRT/84,518 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, container 1, multifunction
large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1,120 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 89
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 36
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1,031
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
914 to 1,523 m: 339
under 914 m: 628 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada
Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 10,418,211 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,980,700 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 360,820 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela
in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial disputes with Nicaragua over
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and
cannabis; cultivation of coca in 1997--79,500 hectares, an 18%
increase over 1996; potential production of cocaine in 1997--125
metric tons, a 14% increase over 1996; cultivation of opium in
1997--6,600 hectares, a 5% increase over 1996; potential production
of opium in 1997--66 metric tons, a 5% increase over 1996; the
world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier
of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets; active
aerial eradication program seeks to virtually eliminate coca and
opium crops
======================================================================
@Comoros
-------
Introduction
Background: Comoros has had difficulty in achieving political
stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since
receiving independence from France in 1975. Most recently, in August
1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence
from Comoros. An attempt in September 1997 by the government to
reestablish control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and
presently the Organization of African Unity is brokering
negotiations to effect a reconciliation.
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique
Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and
northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 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
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to
low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season (December
to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment--current issues: soil degradation and erosion results
from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing;
deforestation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: important location at northern end of Mozambique
Channel
People
Population: 562,723 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 120,397; female 119,945)
15-64 years: 54% (male 150,851; female 154,990)
65 years and over: 3% (male 7,878; female 8,662) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.11% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 40.29 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 81.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.85 years
male: 58.39 years
female: 63.38 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.43 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups: 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:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 64.2%
female: 50.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
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
Data code: CN
Government type: independent republic
Capital: Moroni
Administrative divisions: three islands; Grande Comore
(Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution: 20 October 1996
Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Interim President TADJIDDINE Ben Said Massounde
(since 6 November 1998); note--President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim died
in office 6 November 1998 and was succeeded by Interim President
MASSOUNDE
head of government: Prime Minister Abbas DJOUSSOUF (since 22
November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term;
election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent
of vote--64%
note: the Comoran constitution stipulates that upon the death of the
president, a new president is to be elected within 90 days; however,
Interim President TADJIDDINE has stated that a new election cannot
be held until Anjouan is reunited with the rest of the country
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
(15 seats; members selected by regional councils for six-year terms)
and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Assembly--last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to
be held NA)
election results: Federal Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--RND 39, RND candidate running as independent 1, FNJ 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, two members are
appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal
Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents
of the republic
Political parties and leaders: Rassemblement National pour le
NA]
note: under a new constitution ratified in October 1996, a two-party
system was established; former President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim
called for all parties to dissolve and join him in creating the RND;
the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in
the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in
opposition, but if no party accomplishes that the second most
successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December
1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
(associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU,
NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to
the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal
and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East
45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to
Comoros
Flag description: green with a white crescent in the center of
the field, its points facing downward; 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 (a territorial
collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the
most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by
referendum on 7 June 1992
Economy
Economy--overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros
is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation
links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural
resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes
to a subsistence 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; rice, the main
staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government is
struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize
commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services,
to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high
population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if
the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be maintained.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$400 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.5% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$700 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 14%
services: 46% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1997)
Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $48 million
expenditures: $53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture,
jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 86.67%
hydro: 13.33%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra,
coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Exports: $11.4 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil,
copra
Exports--partners: France 43%, US 43%, Germany 7% (1996)
Imports: $70 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods;
petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Imports--partners: France 59%, South Africa 15%, Kenya 6% (1996)
Debt--external: $219 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $43.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1--420.01 (December
1998), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995),
416.40 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 4,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and
Reunion
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 81,000 (1994)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1998)
Televisions: 200 (1994
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Comoran Security Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 132,969 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 79,224 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3 million (1994 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims French-administered Mayotte; the
islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) have moved to secede
from Comoros
======================================================================
@Congo, Democratic Republic of the
---------------------------------
Geography
Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 2,345,410 sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 10,271 km
border countries: Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African
Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km,
Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Coastline: 37 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin;
cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern
highlands; north of Equator--wet season April to October, dry season
December to February; south of Equator--wet season November to March,
dry season April to October
Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in
east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110
m
Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial
and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium,
uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential,
timber
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 77%
other: 13% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity
Environment--current issues: poaching threatens wildlife
populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees who arrived in
mid-1994 were responsible for significant deforestation, soil
erosion, and wildlife poaching in the eastern part of the country
(most of those refugees were repatriated in November and December
1996)
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography--note: straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that
controls the lower Congo river and is only outlet to South Atlantic
Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern
highlands
People
Population: 50,481,305 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 12,200,532; female 12,136,372)
15-64 years: 49% (male 12,135,901; female 12,692,057)
65 years and over: 3% (male 564,084; female 752,359) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.96% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 46.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.99 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: in 1994, about a million refugees fled into Zaire (now called
the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC), to escape the
fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and Burundi; the
outbreak of widespread fighting in the DROC between rebels and
government forces in October 1996 spurred about 875,000 refugees to
return to Rwanda in late 1996 and early 1997; additionally,the DROC
is host to 200,000 Angolan, 110,000 Burundi, 100,000 Sudanese, and
15,000 Ugandan refugees; renewed fighting in the DROC in August 1998
resulted in more internal displacement and refugee outflows
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 99.45 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.44 years
male: 47.28 years
female: 51.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups: over 200 African ethnic groups of which the
majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes--Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all
Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the
population
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%,
Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%
Languages: French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade
language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo,
Tshiluba
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala,
Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 77.3%
male: 86.6%
female: 67.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
local short form: none
former: Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
abbreviation: DROC
Data code: CG
Government type: dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition
to representative government
Capital: Kinshasa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provinces,
singular--province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo,
Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*,
Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu
Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday: anniversary of independence from Belgium, 30
June (1960)
Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15
February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional constitution
promulgated in April 1994; following successful rebellion the new
government announced on 29 May 1997 a program of constitutional
reform and, in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by
President KABILA and awaits ratification by national referendum
Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Laurent Desire KABILA (since 17 May 1997); note--the
president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: Laurent Desire KABILA (since 17 May 1997);
note--the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president
elections: before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power, the president
was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last
held 29 July 1984 (next was to be held in May 1997); formerly, the
prime minister was elected by the High Council of the Republic;
note--the term of the former government expired in 1991, elections
were not held, and former president MOBUTU continued in office until
his government was militarily defeated by KABILA on 17 May 1997
election results: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga
reelected president in 1984 without opposition
note: Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was
president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May
1997 when his government was overturned militarily by Laurent Desire
KABILA, who immediately assumed governing authority; in his 29 May
1997 inaugural address, President KABILA announced a two-year time
table for political reform leading to elections by April 1999;
subsequently, in December 1998, President KABILA announced that
elections would be postponed until all foreign military forces
attempting his overthrow had withdrawn from the country
Legislative branch: legislative activity has been suspended
pending the establishment of KABILA's promised constitutional
reforms and the elections to be held by April 1999 (now postponed
indefinitely)
elections: the country's first multi-party presidential and
legislative elections had been scheduled for May 1997 but were not
held; instead KABILA overthrew the MOBUTU government and seized
control of the country
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: sole legal party until January
parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS
note: President KABILA, who has banned political party activity
indefinitely, currently leads the Alliance of Democratic Forces for
the Liberation of Congo-Zaire or AFDL
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
Flag description: light blue with a large yellow five-pointed
star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow
five-pointed stars along the hoist side
Economy