chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold
Land use:
arable land : 5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 19,460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water;
wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion;
desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and
its tributaries
@Sudan:People
Population: 32,594,128 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 7,584,401; female 7,271,175)
15-64 years: 52% (male 8,536,476; female 8,492,043)
65 years and over : 2% (male 398,591; female 311,442) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.06% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 40.54 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 11.16 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.28 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 74.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.54 years
male: 54.6 years
female: 56.53 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.79 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic groups: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%,
Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)
Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of
Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
note: program of Arabization in process
Literacy:
definition : age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.1%
male: 57.7%
female: 34.6% (1995 est.)
@Sudan:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form: Sudan
local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form: As-Sudan
former : Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Data code: SU
Government type: transitional - previously ruling military junta;
presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new
constitution to be drafted by the National Assembly
National capital: Khartoum
Administrative divisions: 26 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or
wilayah*); A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, Al
Khartum, Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah, An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, Ash
Shamaliyah*, Bahr al Jabal, Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr al
Ghazal, Gharb Darfur, Gharb Kurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan,
Junqali, Kassala, Nahr an Nil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur,
Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq al Istiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985;
interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30
June 1989; new constitution to be drafted following national elections
held in March 1996
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20
January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed
Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all
residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some
separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal, but noncompulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state : President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR
(since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr
Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993), Second Vice President (Police)
Maj. General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government : President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR
(since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr
Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993), Second Vice President (Police)
Maj. General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president; note - President
al-BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan's National
Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the
Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI dominates
much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies; President
al-BASHIR named a new cabinet on 20 April 1996 which includes members
of the National Islamic Front, serving and retired military offficers,
and civilian technocrats
elections : president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR elected president;
percent of vote - Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 75.7%; note - about forty
other candidates ran for president
note : al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for
National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 and served
concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister,
and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he was appointed
president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October 1993, the
RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved to the president
and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's appointed
legislative body, which has since been replaced by the National
Assembly which was elected in March 1996
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (400 seats; 275
elected by popular vote, 125 elected by a supraassembly of interest
groups known as the National Congress; members serve four-year terms)
elections : last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: NA; the March 1996 elections were held on a nonparty
basis; parties are banned in the new National Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
Political parties and leaders: none; banned following 30 June 1989
coup
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Islamic Front, Hasan
al-TURABI
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahdi Ibrahim MOHAMED
chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 through 8570
FAX : [1] (202) 667-2406
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: operations in Khartoum were
suspended in February 1996; Ambassador to Sudan Timothy M. CARNEY and
several members of the mission have relocated to Nairobi, Kenya and
operate out of the US Embassy there; the embassy is located at the
corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailing address: P. O.
Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 334141; FAX:
[254] (2) 340838
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white,
and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Economy
Economy - overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political
instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances
from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private
sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most
private industrial investment predating 1980. Agriculture employs 80%
of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items.
Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable
largely to declining annual rainfall, has kept per capita income at
low levels. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause
difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual
step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of
arrearages to the Fund. After Sudan backtracked on promised reforms in
1992-93, the IMF threatened to expel Sudan from the Fund. To avoid
expulsion, Khartoum agreed to make payments on its arrears to the
Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has
partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the
civil war and its growing international isolation continued to inhibit
growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during 1996.
Hyperinflation has raised consumer prices above the reach of most.
Popular unrest erupted several times in 1996 in reaction to unpopular
government economic decisions.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $26.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $860 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry : 17%
services: 50% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 133% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 11 million (1996 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government
6%
note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment
(1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92/93 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $382 million
expenditures: $1.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $91
million (1995 est.)
Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap
distilling, shoes, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (FY92/93 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 500,000 kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 1.3 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 37 kWh (1994 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, groundnuts, sorghum, millet, wheat,
gum arabic, sesame; sheep
Exports:
total value: $500 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: cotton 44%, livestock/meat 13%, gum arabic 11%, sesame
10%
partners : Egypt 33.3%, Saudi Arabia 16.6%, Japan 13.4%, Italy 12%
(1995)
Imports:
total value: $1 billion (1996 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods,
machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles
partners : EU 29.4%, US 17.6%, Saudi Arabia 8.7%, Egypt 6.3% (1995)
Debt - external: $18.5 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient : ODA, $387 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (£Sd) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (£Sd) per US$1 - official rate:
1,454.0 (December 1996), 750.0 (November 1995), 277.8 (1994), 153.8
(1993), 69.4 (1992); market rate: 1,4600.00 (January 1997), 1,250.79
(1996), 571.02 (August 1995), 289.61 (1994), 159.31 (1993), 97.43
(1992)
note : the market rate is a unified exchange rate determined by a
committee of local bankers, without official intervention, and is
quoted uniformly by all commercial banks
Fiscal year: calendar year
note: prior to July 1995, Sudan had a fiscal year that began on 1 July
and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year, a
six-month budget was implemented for 1 July - 31 December 1995; the
new calendar year (1 January - 31 December) fiscal year became
effective 1 January 1996
@Sudan:Communications
Telephones: 77,215 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: large, well-equipped system by African standards,
but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern standards
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone
communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system
with 14 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 6.67 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 2.06 million (1992 est.)
@Sudan:Transportation
Railways:
total: 5,516 km
narrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gauge plantation
line
Highways:
total : 11,610 km
paved: 4,203 km
unpaved: 7,407 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 5,310 km navigable
Pipelines: refined products 815 km
Ports and harbors: Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan,
Sawakin
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 37,359 GRT/49,422 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1996 est.)
Airports: 56 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 20
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 8 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m : 24 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force
Militia
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 7,437,363 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 4,576,117 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 341,516 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: administrative boundary with Kenya does not
coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with
Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the
"Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km
______________________________________________________________________
SURINAME
@Suriname:Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 163,270 sq km
land: 161,470 sq km
water: 1,800 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,707 km
border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point : unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp,
bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 96%
other : 4% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for
export
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of
flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of
the lack of development; relatively small population most of which
lives along the coast
@Suriname:People
Population: 424,569 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 73,017; female 69,538)
15-64 years: 61% (male 132,188; female 128,260)
65 years and over: 5% (male 10,033; female 11,533) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.83% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 23.2 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.83 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years : 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.32 years
male: 67.78 years
female: 72.99 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their
ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th
century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15.3%,
"Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the
17th and 18th centuries as slaves) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese
1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%
Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant
25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles
and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others),
Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 95%
female: 91% (1995 est.)
@Suriname:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form : Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Data code: NS
Government type: republic
National capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular -
distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para,
Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996);
Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September
1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet : Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among
the members of the National Assembly
note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant
power
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff
election held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of
legislative vote NA; National Assembly failed to elect president;
results reflect the People's Assembly votes - Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP)
438, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 407
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections : last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP
16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, DA'91 4, Pendawa Lima 4, Alliance 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices nominated for life
Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition of
three parties (NPS, VHP, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive
Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname
(NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity
(KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY;
Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two parties (AF,
and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN; Alternative Forum
(AF), Rick VAN RAVENSWAY; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics
(BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Paul SOMOHARDJO; National
Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm
Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The Progressive Development
Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Frank
PLAYFAIR; Democratic Party (DP), Frank PLAYFAIR; Reformed Progressive
Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation of Land
Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL; Party for Renewal and Democracy (BVD), Atta
MUNGRA; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative (OPDA),
Joginder RAMKHILAWAN
Political pressure groups and leaders: Union for Liberation and
Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement,
Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO;
General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), George TIRINI
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC,
OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cicyl G.
ALWART
chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492
FAX : [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address : P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo,
Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459
FAX: [597] 420800
Flag description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width),
white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there
is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry,
which accounts for upwards of 15% of GDP and more than 65% of export
earnings. Following a dismal year in 1994 which saw the value of the
Surinamese currency plummet by about 80%, inflation rise to more than
600%, and national output fall for the fifth consecutive year, nearly
all economic indicators improved in 1995-96. The government unified
the exchange rate and maintained a fairly tight monetary policy.
Inflation apparently has been eliminated, and tax revenues have
increased sufficiently to erase the budget deficit. The release of
substantial development aid from the Netherlands - which had been held
up due to the government's failure to initiate economic reforms - also
has helped buoy the economy. Suriname's economic prospects for the
medium term will depend on continued implementation of economic
restructuring. The new government elected in the fall of 1996 has sent
mixed signals about commitment to these reforms.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.4 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,150 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry : 33%
services: 53% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 0% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture, industry, services
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $205 million
expenditures: $174 million, including capital expenditures of $12
million (1995 est.)
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum production,
lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 389,000 kW 000 kW
Electricity - production: 1.402 billion kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: 2,929 kWh (1995)
Agriculture - products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts,
plantains, peanuts; beef, chicken; forest products and shrimp of
increasing importance