February 2002) and Vice President Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 17 September
2000) 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 25 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prime minister
and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to
the National Assembly election results: 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 11 September 2000
(next to be held by September 2005) election results: percent of vote
by party - MSM/MMM 52.3%, MLP/PMSD 36.9%, OPR 10.8%; seats by party -
MSM/MMM 54, MLP/PMSD 6, OPR 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH];
Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian
Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] - in coalition with MSM;
Mauritian Militant Renaissance or MMR [Dr. Paramhansa NABABSING];
Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL];
Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH] - governing
party; Rodrigues Movement or OPR [Joseph (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, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN,
UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Usha JEETAH FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491,
1492 chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Bisa WILLIAMS 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
[230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767 FAX:
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue,
yellow, and green
Economy Mauritius
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 in the order of 5%
to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable
income distribution, 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. 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. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector
and responsible fiscal management, was well-poised to take advantage of
the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.9 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,800 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 33% services: 61%
(1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 10% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 0.37 (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.2% (2001 est.)
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: 8.6% (2001 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: 8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.285 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.05% hydro: 8.95%
other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 1.195 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses;
cattle, goats; fish
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers,
molasses
Exports - partners: UK 25.8%, France 20.8%, US 16.0%, South Africa 10.9%,
Germany, Italy (2000 est.)
Imports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs,
petroleum products, chemicals (1996)
Imports - partners: South Africa 20.0%, France 19.0%, India 9.0%,
Hong Kong 5.2%, UK (2000 est.)
Debt - external: $2.3 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $42 million (1997)
Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Currency code: MUR
Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 30.345 (January 2002),
29.129 (2001), 26.250 (2000), 25.186 (1999), 22.993 (1998), 21.057 (1997)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications Mauritius
Telephones - main lines in use: 245,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 60,482 (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: 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 several repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 258,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .mu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 87,000 (2001)
Transportation Mauritius
Railways: 0 km (2002)
Highways: 1,786 km (including 36 km of expressways) unpaved: Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors: Port Louis
Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 66,004
GRT/90,017 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, combination bulk 2, container 2,
refrigerated cargo 2 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered
here as a flag of convenience:, Belgium 1, India 3, Norway 1, Switzerland
2 (2002 est.)
Airports: 5 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m:
2 (2001)
Military Mauritius
Military branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary
Special Mobile Force or SMF and National Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 340,050 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 171,239
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $9.1 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.2% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Mauritius
Disputes - international: Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago
(UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former
inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but were granted
UK citizenship and the right to repatriation in 2001; claims
French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs: minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from
South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Midway Islands
Introduction
Midway Islands
Background: The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The
laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands,
brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was
used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory
over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points
of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until
closed in 1993. Today the islands are a national wildlife refuge. From
1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the public. It is now temporarily
closed.
Geography Midway Islands
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third
of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates: 28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 6.2 sq km note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island,
and Spit Island water: 0 sq km land: 6.2 sq km
Area - comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain: low, nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
unnamed location 13 m
Natural resources: wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and
open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife
observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving;
the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at present (2002)
People Midway Islands
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up
the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services cooperator
living at the atoll (April 2002 est.)
Population growth rate: NA
Government Midway Islands
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form:
Midway Islands
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; formerly
administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval
Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has
been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October 1996,
through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control
of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system: the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy Midway Islands
Economy - overview: The economy is based on providing support services
for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All
food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Transportation Midway Islands
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: none
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports and harbors: Sand Island
Airports: 3 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Military Midway Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Midway Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Mauritania
Introduction
Mauritania
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 flawed,
but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally
free and open. 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.
Geography Mauritania
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 territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 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, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold,
oil; fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1998 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: 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
People Mauritania
Population: 2,828,858 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46.1% (male 653,005; female 650,530) 15-64
years: 51.7% (male 720,473; female 741,094) 65 years and over: 2.2%
(male 26,251; female 37,505) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.92% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 42.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 75.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 53.71 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 6.15 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.8% (2000 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 6,600 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 610 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof
(official), French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 41.2% male: 51.5% female: 31.3% (2002 est.)
Government Mauritania
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional
Muritaniyah local long form:
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 Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
(since 12 December 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh El
Avia Ould Mohamed
Council of Ministers elections: held 12 December 1997 (next to be held
NA December 2003); prime minister
appointed by the president election results: President 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, a part of the seats up for election every
two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms)
and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (81 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held
17 April 1998 (next to be held NA April 2002); National Assembly - last
held 19 and 26 October 2001 (next to be held NA 2006) election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - PRDS 98%, others 2%; seats by party
- PRDS 56; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - PRDS 79%,
RDU 3.5%, UDP 3.5%, AC 5%, RDF 4%, UFP 3.5%, FP 1.5%; seats by party -
PRDS 64, UDP 3, RDU 3, AC 4, RDF 3, UFP 3,and FP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals;
lower courts
Political parties and leaders: Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould
BOULKHEIR]; Alliance for Justice and Democracy or AJD [Kebe ABDOULAYE];
Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party) [President
Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA]; Mauritanian Party for Renewal and Concorde
or PMRC [Molaye El Hassen Ould JIYID]; National Union for Democracy
and Development or UNDD [Tidjane KOITA]; Party for Liberty, Equality
and Justice or PLEJ [Daouda M'BAGNIGA]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih
Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progress Alliance or APP [Mohamed El
Hafed Ould ISMAEL]; Popular Social and Democratic Union or UPSD [Mohamed
Mahmoud Ould MAH]; Progress Force Union or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD];
Rally of Democratic Forces or RDF [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy
and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Union for Democracy and Progress
or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS] note: the Action for Change party was banned
in January 2002; parties legalized by constitution ratified 12 July 1991,
however, politics continue to be tribally based
Political pressure groups and leaders: Arab nationalists; Ba'athists;
General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould
MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation of Mauritanian
Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union
or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Mohamedou Ould MICHEL chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC
20008 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
John W. LIMBERT embassy: Rue Abdallaye, Nouakchott mailing address:
BP 222, Nouakchott telephone: [222] 525-2660, 525-2663 FAX: [222] 525-1592
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
Economy Mauritania
Economy - overview: Half 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 half 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 the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in
a buildup of foreign debt. In February, 2000, Mauritania qualified for
debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative
and in December 2001 received strong support from donor and lending
countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. Mauritania withdrew
its membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
in 2000 and subsequently increased commercial ties with Arab Maghreb
Union members Morocco and Tunisia, most notably in telecommunications. In
2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential
viable extraction at current world oil prices. However, the refinery in
Nouadhibou historically has not exceeded 20% of its distillation capacity,
and it handled no crude in the year 2000. A new Investment Code approved
in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 29% services:
46% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 30.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 37.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 786,000 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 40%, industry 10%
(2001 est.)
Unemployment rate: 21% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $421 million expenditures: $378 million, including
capital expenditures of $154 million (2002 est.)
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 154 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 84.42% hydro: 15.58%
other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 143.22 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates;
cattle, sheep
Exports: $359 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Exports - partners: France 18%, Japan 16%, Italy 13%, Spain 10% (2000)
Imports: $335 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products,
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners: France 33%, US 10%, Spain 9%, Algeria 6%, Germany
6%, Benelux 5% (2000)
Debt - external: $1.6 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient: $220 million (2000)
Currency: ouguiya (MRO)
Currency code: MRO
Exchange rates: ouguiyas per US dollar - 254.350 (December 2001), 238.923
(2000), 209.514 (1999), 188.476 (1998), 151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Mauritania
Telephones - main lines in use: 26,500 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 35,000 (2001)
Telephone system: general assessment: limited 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 14, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios: 410,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (2002)
Televisions: 98,000 (2001)