total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Martinique:Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Martinique:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for
the US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
MAURITANIA
@Mauritania:Introduction
Background: Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the
southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in
1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario
guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Opposition
parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two
multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as being
flawed; Mauritania remains, in reality, a one-party state. The country
continues to experience ethnic tensions between its black minority
population and the dominant Maur (Arab-Berber) populace.
@Mauritania:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of New
Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline: 754 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 58% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows
primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil
erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification;
very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which
is the only perennial river
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: most of the population concentrated in the cities of
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern
part of the country
@Mauritania:People
Population: 2,667,859 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 617,077; female 614,961)
15-64 years: 52% (male 677,238; female 697,524)
65 years and over: 2% (male 25,417; female 35,642) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.94% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 43.36 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 13.97 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 78.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.76 years
male: 48.7 years
female: 52.87 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.29 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof
(official), French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.7%
male: 49.6%
female: 26.3% (1995 est.)
@Mauritania:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah
Data code: MR
Government type: republic
Capital: Nouakchott
Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular - region) and
1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou,
Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri,
Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution: 12 July 1991
Legal system: a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil
law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA
(since 16 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December
2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected
with 90.9% of the vote
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or
Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years;
members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the
National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2001);
National Assembly - last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held
NA 2001)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and Supreme Court
(Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould
BOULKHEIR]; Assembly for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI
BABA]; Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party)
; National Avant-Garde
Party or PAN ; Popular Social and Democratic
Union or UPSD ; Union of Democratic
Forces-New Era or UFD/NE
note: parties legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however,
politics continue to be tribally based
Political pressure groups and leaders: General Confederation of
Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary
general]; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM,
secretary general]; B'athists; Arab nationalists; Islamists
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate),
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member),
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed Ben Khalifa BEN JIDDOU
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 232-5700
FAX: (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER
embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott
mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
telephone: (2) 526-60, 526-63
FAX: (2) 515-92
Flag description: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a
yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down;
the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
@Mauritania:Economy
Economy - overview: A majority of the population still depends on
agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the
nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by
recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive
deposits of iron ore, which account for almost 50% of total exports.
The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks
in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest
fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners
threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater
port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years, drought and
economic mismanagement have resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In
March 1999, the government signed an agreement with a joint World
Bank-IMF mission on a $54 million enhanced structural adjustment
facility (ESAF). The economic objectives have been set for 1999-2002.
Privatization remains one of the key issues. Mauritania is unlikely to
meet ESAF's annual GDP growth objectives of 4%-5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,910 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 31%
services: 44% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 57% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.8% (1998)
Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 39%, industry
14%
Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $329 million
expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75
million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (1994)
Electricity - production: 152 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 80.26%
hydro: 19.74%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 141 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle,
sheep; fish products
Exports: $425 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold
Exports - partners: Japan 24%, Italy 17%, France 14%, Spain 8% (1997)
Imports: $444 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products,
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners: France 26%, Spain 8%, Germany 7%, Benelux 7%
(1997)
Debt - external: $2.5 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $227.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1 - 219.560 (December 1999),
209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996),
129.768 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mauritania:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 9,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor
microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
stations (improvements being made)
domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed
domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with
regional capitals
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 360,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 62,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Mauritania:Transportation
Railways:
total: 704 km (single track); note - owned and operated by government
mining company
standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 7,660 km
paved: 866 km
unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 26 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Mauritania:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 605,124 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 293,445 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $41 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY97)
@Mauritania:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
MAURITIUS
@Mauritius:Introduction
Background: Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was
subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before
independence was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular
free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has
attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of
Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent protests over standards of
living in the Creole community have slowed economic growth.
@Mauritius:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references: World
Area:
total: 1,860 sq km
land: 1,850 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area - comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter
(May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains
encircling central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 49%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely
surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues: water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Mauritius:People
Population: 1,179,368 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 153,385; female 149,451)
15-64 years: 68% (male 401,032; female 403,295)
65 years and over: 6% (male 28,981; female 43,224) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.89% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 16.66 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.83 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.98 years
male: 66.98 years
female: 75.04 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,
Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant
2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
Bojpoori
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.9%
male: 87.1%
female: 78.8% (1995 est.)
@Mauritius:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
Data code: MP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Louis
Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega
Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port,
Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart,
Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of
English common law in certain areas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice
President Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 27
December 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 28 June 1997 (next to
be held NA 2002); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed
by the president and are responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Cassam UTEEM reelected president and Angidi Verriah
CHETTIAR elected vice president; percent of vote by the National
Assembly - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats - 62
elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from
the losing political parties to give representation to various ethnic
minorities; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 20%,
other 15%; seats by party - MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on
Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1,
Hizbullah 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Hizbullah ;
Mauritian Labor Party or MLP - governing
party; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM ; Mauritian
Militant Renaissance or MMR ; Mauritian
Social Democrat Party or PMSD ; Militant Socialist
Movement or MSM ; Organization of the People of
Rodrigues or OPR ; Rodrigues Movement [Nicholas Von
MALLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: various labor unions
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,
ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM,
OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING
chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 244-1491, 1492
FAX: (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark W. ERWIN
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US
mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington,
DC 20521-2450
telephone: 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767
FAX: 208-9534
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue,
yellow, and green
@Mauritius:Economy
Economy - overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has
developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to a middle
income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and
tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been of the
order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in
increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much
improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the
cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. A
record-setting drought severely damaged the sugar crop in 1999,
however. The government's development strategy centers on foreign
investment. Mauritius has attracted more than 9,000 offshore entities,
many aimed at commerce in India and South Africa, and investment in
the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Economic
performance in 1991-99 continued strong with solid growth and low
unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,400 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 29%
services: 61% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 10.6% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1999)
Labor force: 514,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: construction and industry 36%, services
24%, agriculture and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%,
transportation and communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles,
clothing; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment,
nonelectrical machinery; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.225 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 91.84%
hydro: 8.16%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.139 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas,
pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers,
molasses
Exports - partners: UK 32%, France 19%, US 14%, Germany 6%, Italy 4%
(1997)
Imports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, capital equipment,
foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals (1996)
Imports - partners: France 19%, South Africa 12%, India 9%, Hong Kong
7%, UK 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $1.9 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $42 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 25.485 (January
2000), 25.186 (1999), 22.993 (1998), 21.057 (1997), 17.948 (1996),
17.386 (1995)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Mauritius:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 148,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 11,735 (1995)
Telephone system: small system with good service
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several
countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 258,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Mauritius:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,910 km
paved: 1,834 km (including 36 km of expressways)
unpaved: 76 km (1998 est.)
Ports and harbors: Port Louis
Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 126,358 GRT/173,079 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, combination bulk 2, container 4, liquified gas
1, refrigerated cargo 2 (1999 est.)
note: a flag of convenience registry; India owns 1 ship (1998 est.)
Airports: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)