and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and
the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has
six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five
offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and
below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity,
Peace, Justice)
Geography
---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 28,050 sq km
land area: 28,050 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon
because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are
volcanic
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Malabo 3,008 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits
of gold, manganese, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 51%
other: 33%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: tap water is not potable; desertification
natural hazards: violent windstorms
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: insular and continental regions rather widely
separated
People
------
Population: 431,282 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 93,319; female 92,753)
15-64 years: 53% (male 108,706; female 120,129)
65 years and over: 4% (male 7,235; female 9,140) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.58% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 39.77 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 14.01 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 98 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.01 years
male: 50.79 years
female: 55.29 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.17 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic divisions: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio
Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic,
pagan practices
Languages: Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 78.5%
male: 89.6%
female: 68.1%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
former: Spanish Guinea
Data code: EK
Type of government: republic in transition to multiparty democracy
Capital: Malabo
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem,
Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution: new constitution 17 November 1991
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979) election last held 25 February 1996
(next to be held NA February 2003); results - President OBIANG
NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected to a seven-year term without opposition
head of government: Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17
January 1992); Vice Prime Minister Anatolio NDONG MBA (since
November 1993)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of People's Representatives: (Camara de Representantes del
Pueblo) elections last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (82 total) PDGE 72,
various opposition parties 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig.
Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader
opposition parties: Progressive Democratic Alliance (ADP),
Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president; Popular Action of Equatorial
Guinea (APGE),Casiano Masi Edu, leader; Liberal Democratic
Convention (CLD), Alfonso Nsue MIFUMU, president; Convergence for
Social Democracy (CPDS), Santiago Obama Ndong, president; Social
Democratic and Popular Convergence (CSDP), Secundino Oyono Agueng
Ada, general secretary; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition
(PCSD), Buenaventura Moswi M'Asumu, general coordinater; Liberal
Party (PL), Santos PASCUAL; Party of Progress (PP), Severo MOTO Nsa,
president; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Benjamin-Gabriel Balingha
Balinga Alene, general secretary; Socialist Party of Equatorial
Guinea (PSGE), Tomas MICHEBE Fernandez, general secretary; National
Democratic Union (UDENA), Jose MECHEBA Ikaka, president; Democratic
Social Union (UDS), Camelo Modu, general secretary; Popular Union
(UP), Juan Bitui, president
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS
(observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
chancery: (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553
telephone: [1] (914) 738-9584, 667-6913
FAX: [1] (914) 667-6838
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US relations with
Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde,
Cameroon
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red
with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat
of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow
six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore
islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below
which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity,
Peace, Justice)
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for
about half of GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence farming
predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on
cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the deterioration of
the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished
potential for agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs
sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993
because of the government's gross corruption and mismanagement.
Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and
their family members. Undeveloped natural resources include
titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil
exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French,
and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful. In 1995, exports
responded to the devaluation of 12 January 1994, apparently
resulting in a sizable surplus and strong GDP growth. Increased
production from recently discovered oil and natural gas fields will
provide a greater share of exports in 1996-97.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $325 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 10% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 47%
industry: 26%
services: 27% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 41% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 172,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980)
note: labor shortages on plantations
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $32.5 million
expenditures: $35.9 million, including capital expenditures of $3
million (1992 est.)
Industries: fishing, sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 23,000 kW
production: 20 million kWh
consumption per capita: 50 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca),
bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc; livestock; timber
Exports: $62 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: coffee, cocoa beans, timber, petroleum
partners: Spain, Nigeria, Cameroon, Japan, Portugal
Imports: $60 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
partners: Cameroon, Spain, France, US, Italy, Netherlands
External debt: $268 million (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
282.11 (1991)
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: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,744 km
paved: 330 km
unpaved: 2,414 km (1988 est.)
Ports: Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,412 GRT/6,699 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 2,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: poor system with adequate government services
domestic: NA
international: international communications from Bata and Malabo to
African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force,
National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 92,704
males fit for military service: 47,124 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 million, NA%
of GDP (FY93/94)
======================================================================
@Eritrea
-------
Map
---
Location: 15 00 N, 39 00 E -- Eastern Africa, bordering the Red
Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Flag
----
Description: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is
green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive
branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle
Geography
---------
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti
and Sudan
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 121,320 sq km
land area: 121,320 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,630 km
border countries: Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline: 1,151 km (land and island coastline is 2,234 km)
Maritime claims: NA
International disputes: a dispute with Yemen over sovereignty of
the Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea has been submitted to
arbitration under the auspices of the ICJ
Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and
wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually);
semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during
June-September except on coastal desert
Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending
highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the
northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling
plains
lowest point: Kobar Sink -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,013 m
Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil
(petroleum geologists are prospecting for it), fish
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 2% (coffee)
meadows and pastures: 40%
forest and woodland: 5%
other: 50%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: famine; deforestation; desertification; soil
erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
natural hazards: frequent droughts
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species; signed, but
not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification
Geographic note: strategic geopolitical position along world's
busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of
Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia
on 27 April 1993
People
------
Population: 3,427,883 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 755,417; female 743,135)
15-64 years: 53% (male 910,976; female 913,531)
65 years and over: 3% (male 54,310; female 50,514) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.79% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 43.32 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.44 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note: it is estimated that between 300,000 and 500,000 Eritrean
refugees were still living in Sudan at the end of 1995; their
repatriation is being facilitated by the UNHCR
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 118.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.31 years
male: 48.57 years
female: 52.1 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic divisions: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar
4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Italian, Tigre and Kunama,
Tigrinya, minor tribal languages
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: none
local short form: none
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Data code: ER
Type of government: transitional government
note: on 29 May 1991 ISAIAS Afworke, secretary general of the
Peoples' Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served
and still serves as the country's legislative body, announced the
formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in
preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for
the autonomous region of Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote
for independence, which was proclaimed on 27 April 1993
Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular - awraja); Akele
Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye; note -
information issued by the Eritrean government indicates that the
administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been established by
former colonial powers, will consist of only six regions when the
new constitution, presently being drafted, goes into effect sometime
in 1996
Independence: 27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea
Autonomous Region)
National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24
May (1993)
Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993; the
promulgation of a draft constitution is expected in 1996
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA; note - the transitional constitution of 19 May 1993
did not provide rules for suffrage, but it seems likely that the
final version of the constitution, to be promulgated some time in
1996, will follow the example set in the referendum of 1993 in which
suffrage was universal for persons 18 years of age or older
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki
(since 22 May 1993) is head of the State Council and National
Assembly
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority
note: election to be held in 1997
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old
Central Committee of the EPLF) and 75 directly elected members serve
as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections are
held in 1997
Judicial branch: Judiciary
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
Justice (PFDJ), ISAIAS Afworki, PETROS Solomon (the only party
recognized by the government)
Other political or pressure groups: Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ);
Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), ABDULLAH Muhammed; Eritrean
Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO), Mohammed Said
NAWUD; Eritrean Liberation Front - Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC),
Ahmed NASSER
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador AMDEMICHAEL Berhane Khasai
chancery: Suite 400, 910 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 429-1991
FAX: [1] (202) 429-9004
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. HOUDEK
embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt St., Asmara
mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584
Flag: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing
the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the
lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is
centered on the hoist side of the red triangle
Economy
-------
Economic overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April
1993, Eritrea faces the bitter economic problems of a small,
desperately poor African country. Most of the population will
continue to depend on subsistence farming. Domestic output is
substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad.
Government revenues come from custom duties and income and sales
taxes. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia and
has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of
offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. For the time being,
Ethiopia will be largely dependent on Eritrean ports for its foreign
trade.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 10% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $570 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1995 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: NA kW
production: NA kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco,
coffee, sisal (for making rope); livestock (including goats); fish
Exports: $33 million (1995 est.)
commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles
partners: Ethiopia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UK, US, Yemen
Imports: $420 million (1995 est.)
commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum products
partners: NA
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents; at present, Ethiopian currency
used
Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 - 6.2 (1995 est.), 5.600
(September 1994), 5.000 (fixed rate 1992-93); note - following
independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use Ethiopian
currency, the official rate of which was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 307 km; note - nonoperational since 1978 except for about 5
km that was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the
remainder and of the rolling stock is under way; links Ak'ordat and
Asmara (formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)
narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 3,845 km
paved: 807 km
unpaved: 3,038 km (1993 est.)
Ports: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,573 GRT/13,593
DWT (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 14
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: very inadequate; about 4 telephones per 100 families, most
of which are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders
to improve the system
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government controlled)
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: NA
males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Estonia
-------
Map
---
Location: 59 00 N, 26 00 E -- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic
Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Flag
----
Description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990
- three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
Geography
---------
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 45,100 sq km
land area: 43,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont
combined
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Land boundaries:
total: 557 km
border countries: Latvia 267 km, Russia 290 km
Coastline: 1,393 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: limits to be fixed in coordination with
neighboring states
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims over 2,000 sq km of Russian
territory in the Narva and Pechora regions - based on boundary
established under the 1921 Peace Treaty of Tartu; disputes maritime
border with Latvia - primary concern is fishing rights around Ruhne
Island in the Gulf of Riga
Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources: shale oil, peat, phosphorite, amber
Land use:
arable land: 22%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 11%
forest and woodland: 31%
other: 36%
Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from
oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil
and groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former Soviet
military bases
natural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
People
------
Population: 1,459,428 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 148,683; female 143,563)
15-64 years: 66% (male 467,759; female 501,519)
65 years and over: 14% (male 63,976; female 133,928) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.13% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.74 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)