Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek,
Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock,
Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New
Providence, Nicholls Town and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock
Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution: 10 July 1973
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir Orville
TURNQUEST (since 2 January 1995) who was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since
19 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since NA)
were appointed by the governor general
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the prime
minister's recommendation
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: a 16-member body appointed by the governor general
House of Assembly: elections last held 19 August 1992 (next to be
held by August 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(49 total) FNM 32, PLP 17
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP),
Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National Movement (FNM), Hubert
Alexander INGRAHAM
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sidney WILLIAMS
embassy: Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; P.O. Box 9009, Miami, FL
33159; Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370 (pouch)
telephone: [1] (809) 322-1181, 328-2206
FAX: [1] (809) 328-7838
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and
aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with
an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking.
Tourism alone accounts for more than 50% of GDP and directly or
indirectly employs 40% of the archipelago's labor force. A slowdown
in the expansion of the tourism sector - especially stopover travel
from Europe - led to a reduction in the country's GDP growth rate in
1995, down to an estimated 2% from 3.5% in 1994. The construction
sector benefited from hotel rehabilitation and the government's
ongoing housing development program. Earnings from exports of
vegetable and citrus production have been decreasing since 1993 but
are expected to increase in 1996 due to storm damage to crops in
Florida. The overall growth prospects through 1996 will depend
heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector and continued income
growth in the US, which accounts for the majority of tourist visits.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $18,700 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 35%
services: 62% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994)
Labor force: 136,900 (1993)
by occupation: government 30%, tourism 40%, business services 10%,
agriculture 5% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $665 million
expenditures: $725 million, including capital expenditures of $94
million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and
transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals,
spiral-welded steel pipe
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 424,000 kW
production: 929 million kWh
consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: citrus, vegetables; poultry
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound
for US and Europe; also a money-laundering center
Exports: $224.257 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish, refined
petroleum products
partners: US 51%, UK 7%, Norway 7%, France 6%, Italy 5%
Imports: $1.08 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil, vehicles,
electronics
partners: US 55%, Japan 17%, Nigeria 12%, Denmark 7%, Norway 6%
External debt: $407.8 million (December 1994)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,386 km
paved: 1,342 km
unpaved: 1,044 km (1986 est.)
Ports: Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
Merchant marine:
total: 956 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,592,285
GRT/35,765,965 DWT
ships by type: bulk 176, cargo 182, chemical tanker 43, combination
bulk 9, combination ore/oil 19, container 53, liquefied gas tanker
20, oil tanker 180, passenger 53, refrigerated cargo 147,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 47, short-sea passenger 13, vehicle carrier 14
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 48
countries among which are Norway 155, Greece 124, US 84, Denmark 63,
Netherlands 44, Sweden 36, Finland 34, France 29, Japan 29, and
Belgium 24 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 55
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 16
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11
with paved runways under 914 m: 17
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 119,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed
international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida;
3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 200,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1986 est.)
Televisions: 60,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal
Bahamas Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: NA
males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $20 million, 3.8%
of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@The Gambia
----------
Map
---
Location: 13 28 N, 16 34 W -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Flag
----
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with
white edges, and green
Geography
---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references: Africa
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
border country: 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
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
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 30 years
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification
Geographic note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on
the continent of Africa
People
------
Population: 1,204,984 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 276,782; female 275,683)
15-64 years: 51% (male 307,405; female 312,736)
65 years and over: 3% (male 17,278; female 15,100) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.55% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.44 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.96 years
male: 50.74 years
female: 55.24 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.06 children born/woman (1996 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 (1995 est.)
total population: 38.6%
male: 52.8%
female: 24.9%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Data code: GA
Type of government: republic under multiparty democratic rule
note:: nominally a republic, The Gambia has had a military
government since 22 July 1994; the military authority has promised
to return control to a democratically-elected government in July 1996
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; suspended July 1994
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: Chairman of the Armed Forces
Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since the
military coup of 22 July 1994); Vice Chairman of the Armed Forces
Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Edward SINGHATEH (since March
1995); last popular election held on 29 April 1992; results - Sir
Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan
Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0% (prior to the 22 July 1994 coup, next
election had been scheduled for April 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet normally is appointed by the president from members
of the House of Representatives (present cabinet appointed by
Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council)
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Representatives: last popular election held on 29 April
1992 (next to be held NA April 1997); results - PPP won 58.1% of
votes; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6
note: following the military coup on 22 July 1994, all elective
offices were dissolved; in April 1996, the military government
announced that voter registrations would begin in May and democratic
elections would be held in October 1996
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: the following political parties
were active on 22 July 1994, after which time political activity was
banned by the military government: People's Progressive Party (PPP),
Dawda K. JAWARA (in exile), secretary general; National Convention
Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA (in exile); 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
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires
ad interim Tombong SAIDY
chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399, 1379, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald A. SCOTT
embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971
FAX: [220] 392475
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white
edges, and green
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other
natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of
the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising.
Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of
peanuts, fish, and hides. A sustained structural adjustment program,
including a liberalized trade policy, had fostered a respectable 4%
annual rate of growth in 1990-93. Reexport trade normally
constitutes one-third of economic activity; however, border closures
associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993 led to a
halving of reexport trade, reducing government revenues in turn. The
50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made Senegalese
goods more competitive and apparently prompted a relaxation of
Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in reexports.
But, in response to the military's takeover in July 1994, cuts in
foreign trade and a decline in tourism have undermined economic
growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 15%
services: 58% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1994)
Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services
18.9%, government 6.1%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $91.4 million
expenditures: $90 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96 est.)
Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism;
beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking,
metalworking; clothing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 30,000 kW
production: 70 million kWh
consumption per capita: 64 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava
(tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishing
resources not fully exploited
Exports: $35 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm
kernels
partners: Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)
Imports: $209 million (f.o.b., 1994 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: $386 million (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut
Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.555 (August 1996), 9.576
(1994), 9.129 (1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,386 km
paved: 764 km
unpaved: 1,622 km (1990 est.)
Waterways: 400 km
Ports: Banjul
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 11,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire
international: microwave radio relay links to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 180,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy, National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 267,188
males fit for military service: 134,611 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 3.8%
of GDP (FY93/94)
======================================================================
@Togo
----
Map
---
Location: 8 00 N, 1 10 E -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Benin and Ghana
Flag
----
Description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom)
alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red
square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia
Geography
---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 56,790 sq km
land area: 54,390 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,647 km
border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline: 56 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 30 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern
plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Baumann 986 m
Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 28%
other: 42%
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn
agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; recent droughts affecting
agriculture
natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in
north during winter; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
People
------
Population: 4,570,530 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 49% (male 1,116,030; female 1,105,957)
15-64 years: 49% (male 1,085,774; female 1,163,374)
65 years and over: 2% (male 46,089; female 53,306) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.56% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 46.23 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.66 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 84.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.87 years
male: 55.7 years
female: 60.1 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.75 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese
Ethnic divisions: native African (37 tribes; largest and most
important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and
Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Christian 20%, Muslim 10%
Languages: French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and
Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Dagomba and
Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye; the two major African languages in
the north)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 51.7%
male: 67%
female: 37%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Togo
conventional short form: Togo
local long form: Republique Togolaise
local short form: none
former: French Togo
Data code: TO
Type of government: republic under transition to multiparty
democratic rule
Capital: Lome
Administrative divisions: 23 circumscriptions (circonscriptions,
singular - circonscription); Amlame (Amou), Aneho (Lacs), Atakpame
(Ogou), Badou (Wawa), Bafilo (Assoli), Bassar (Bassari), Dapango
(Tone), Kande (Keran), Klouto (Kloto), Pagouda (Binah), Lama-Kara
(Kozah), Lome (Golfe), Mango (Oti), Niamtougou (Doufelgou), Notse
(Haho), Pagouda, Sotouboua, Tabligbo (Yoto), Tchamba, Nyala,
Tchaoudjo, Tsevie (Zio), Vogan (Vo)
note: the 23 units may now be called prefectures (singular -
prefecture) and reported name changes for individual units are
included in parentheses
Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN
trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution: multiparty draft constitution approved by High
Council of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27
September 1992
Legal system: French-based court system
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April
1967) reelected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election
last held 25 August 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); all major
opposition parties boycotted the election; Gen. EYADEMA won 96.5% of
the vote
head of government: Prime Minister Edem KODJO (since April 1994)
appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: elections last held 6 and 20 February 1994 (next
to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81
total) CAR 36, RPT 35, UTD 7, UJD 2, CFN 1
note: the Supreme Court ordered new elections for three seats of the
Action Committee for Renewal (CAR) and the Togolese Union for
Democracy (UTD), lowering their total to 34 and six seats,
respectively; the remaining three seats have not been filled
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel); Supreme Court
(Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Rally of the Togolese People (RPT),
President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA; Coordination des Forces Nouvelles
(CFN), Joseph KOFFIGOH; Togolese Union for Democracy (UTD), Edem
KODJO; Action Committee for Renewal (CAR), Yao AGBOYIBOR; Union for
Democracy and Solidarity (UDS), Antoine FOLLY; Pan-African
Sociodemocrats Group (GSP), an alliance of three radical parties:
CDPA, PDR, and PSP; Democratic Convention of African Peoples (CDPA),
Leopold GNININVI; Party for Democracy and Renewal (PDR), Zarifou
AYEVA; Pan-African Social Party (PSP), Francis AGBAGLI; Union of
Forces for Change (UFC), Gilchrist OLYMPIO (in exile); Union of
Justice and Democracy (UJD), Lal TAXPANDJAN
note: Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), led by President EYADEMA,
was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was
legalized 12 April 1991
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WADB, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO