Chapter 29
Population: 5,636,524 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.04% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 33.12 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -6.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 42.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.5 years male: 63.93 years female: 69.2 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.87 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran Ethnic divisions: mestizo 94%, Indian 5%, white 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 75% note: Roman Catholic about 75%; there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 73% male: 76% female: 70% Labor force: 1.7 million (1982 est.) by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1% note: shortage of skilled labor and a large pool of unskilled labor, but manpower training programs improving situation (1984 est.)
*El Salvador, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador Digraph: ES Type: republic Capital: San Salvador Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Constitution: 20 December 1983 Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance (Arena), Armando CALDERON Sol, president; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Fidel CHAVEZ Mena, secretary general; National Conciliation Party (PCN), Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, president; Democratic Convergence (CD) is a coalition of three parties - the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Carlos Diaz BARRERA, secretary general; Democratic Nationalist Union (UDN), Mario AGUINADA Carranza, secretary general; and the Popular Social Christian Movement (MPSC), Dr. Ruben Ignacio ZAMORA Rivas; Authentic Christian Movement (MAC), Guillermo Antonia GUEVARA Lacayo, president; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLM), Jorge Shafik HANDAL, general coordinator, has five factions - Popular Liberation Forces (FPL), Salvador SANCHEZ Ceren; Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN), Ferman CIENFUEGOS; People's Revolutionary Army (ERP), Joaquin VILLA LOBOS Huezo; Salvadoran Communist Party/Armed Forces of Liberation (PCES/FAL), Jorge Shafik HANDAL; and Central American Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRTC)/Popular Liberation Revolutionary Aermed Forces (FARLP), Francisco JOVEL Other political or pressure groups: FMLN labor front organizations: National Union of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS), leftist umbrella front group, leads FMLN front network; National Federation of Salvadoran Workers (FENASTRAS), best organized of front groups and controlled by FMLN's National Resistance (RN); Social Security Institute Workers Union (STISSS), one of the most militant fronts, is controlled by FMLN's Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN) and RN; Association of Telecommunications Workers (ASTTEL); Unitary Federation of Salvadoran Unions (FUSS), leftist; Treasury Ministry Employees (AGEMHA)
*El Salvador, Government
FMLN nonlabor front organizations: Committee of Mothers and Families of Political Prisoners, Disappeared Persons, and Assassinated of El Salvador (COMADRES); Nongovernmental Human Rights Commission (CDHES); Committee of Dismissed and Unemployed of El Salvador (CODYDES); General Association of Salvadoran University Students (AGEUS); National Association of Salvadoran Educators (ANDES-21 DE JUNIO); Salvadoran Revolutionary Student Front (FERS), associated with the Popular Forces of Liberation (FPL); Association of National University Educators (ADUES); Salvadoran University Students Front (FEUS); Christian Committee for the Displaced of El Salvador (CRIPDES), an FPL front; The Association for Communal Development in El Salvador (PADECOES), controlled by the People's Revolutionary Army (ERP); Confederation of Cooperative Associations of El Salvador (COACES) labor organizations: Federation of Construction and Transport Workers Unions (FESINCONSTRANS), independent; Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant association; Democratic Workers Central (CTD), moderate; General Confederation of Workers (CGT), moderate; National Union of Workers and Peasants (UNOC), moderate labor coalition of democratic labor organizations; United Workers Front (FUT) business organizations: National Association of Private Enterprise (ANEP), conservative; Productive Alliance (AP), conservative; National Federation of Salvadoran Small Businessmen (FENAPES), conservative Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Legislative Assembly: last held 10 March 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results - ARENA 44.3%, PDC 27.96%, CD 12.16%, PCN 8.99%, MAC 3.23%, UDN 2.68%; seats - (84 total) ARENA 39, PDC 26, PCN 9, CD 8, UDN 1, MAC 1 President: last held 19 March 1989 (next to be held March 1994); results - Alfredo CRISTIANI (ARENA) 53.8%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 36.6%, other 9.6% Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President (Felix) Alfredo CRISTIANI Buchard (since 1 June 1989); Vice President (Jose) Francisco MERINO Lopez (since 1 June 1989) Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Miguel Angel SALAVERRIA chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-9671 through 3482 consulates general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
*El Salvador, Government
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Peter F. ROMERO embassy: Final Boulevard, Station Antigua Cuscatlan, San Salvador mailing address: APO AA 34023 telephone: [503] 78-4444 FAX: [503] 78-6011 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
*El Salvador, Economy
Overview: The agricultural sector accounts for 24% of GDP, employs about 40% of the labor force, and contributes about 66% to total exports. Coffee is the major commercial crop, accounting for 45% of export earnings. The manufacturing sector, based largely on food and beverage processing, accounts for 18% of GDP and 15% of employment. Economic losses because of guerrilla sabotage total more than $2 billion since 1979. The costs of maintaining a large military seriously constrain the government's efforts to provide essential social services. Nevertheless, growth in national output during the period 1990-92 exceeded growth in population for the first time since 1987. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.9 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 4.6% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $1,060 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1991) Budget: revenues $846 million; expenditures $890 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports: $693 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: coffee 45%, sugar, shrimp, cotton partners: US 33%, Guatemala, Germany, Costa Rica Imports: $1.47 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods partners: US 43%, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany External debt: $2.6 billion (December 1992) Industrial production: growth rate 4.7% (1991); accounts for 22% of GDP Electricity: 713,800 kW capacity; 2,190 million kWh produced, 390 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, nonmetallic products, tobacco, chemicals, textiles, furniture Agriculture: accounts for 24% of GDP and 40% of labor force (including fishing and forestry); coffee most important commercial crop; other products - sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, beef, dairy products, shrimp; not self-sufficient in food Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $2.95 billion, plus $250 million for 1992-96; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $525 million Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
*El Salvador, Economy
Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.7600 (January 1993), 9.1700 (1992), 8.0300 (1991), fixed rate of 5.000 (1986-1989) Fiscal year: calendar year
*El Salvador, Communications
Railroads: 602 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 542 km in use Highways: 10,000 km total; 1,500 km paved, 4,100 km gravel, 4,400 km improved and unimproved earth Inland waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable Ports: Acajutla, Cutuco Airports: total: 105 usable: 74 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: nationwide trunk microwave radio relay system; connection into Central American Microwave System; 116,000 telephones (21 telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 77 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*El Salvador, Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,305,853; fit for military service 836,192; reach military age (18) annually 71,101 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $104 million, 3%-4% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Equatorial Guinea, Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cameroon and Gabon Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 28,050 km2 land area: 28,050 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km Coastline: 296 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay Climate: tropical; always hot, humid Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic Natural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 51% other: 33% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: subject to violent windstorms Note: insular and continental regions rather widely separated
*Equatorial Guinea, People
Population: 399,055 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.6% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 41.1 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 15.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 104.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.63 years male: 49.56 years female: 53.76 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean Ethnic divisions: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices Languages: Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 50% male: 64% female: 37% Labor force: 172,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980) note: labor shortages on plantations; 58% of population of working age (1985)
*Equatorial Guinea, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial former: Spanish Guinea Digraph: EK Type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy Capital: Malabo Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain) Constitution: new constitution 17 November 1991 Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968) Political parties and leaders: ruling - Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader Suffrage: universal adult at age NA Elections: President: last held 25 June 1989 (next to be held 25 June 1996); results - President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO was reelected without opposition Chamber of People's Representatives: last held 10 July 1988 (next to be held 10 July 1993); results - PDGE is the only party; seats - (41 total) PDGE 41 Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives of the People (Camara de Representantes del Pueblo) Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal Leaders: Chief of State: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979) Head of Government: Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17 January 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG MIFUMU (since 22 January 1992)
*Equatorial Guinea, Government
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Damaso OBIANG NDONG chancery: (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553 telephone: (914) 667-9664 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John E. BENNETT embassy: Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo mailing address: P.O. Box 597, Malabo telephone: [240] (9) 2185 FAX: [240] (9) 2164 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)
*Equatorial Guinea, Economy
Overview: The economy, devastated during the regime of former President Macias NGUEMA, is based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which account for about half of GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence agriculture predominates, with cocoa, coffee, and wood products providing income, foreign exchange, and government revenues. There is little industry. Commerce accounts for about 8% of GDP and the construction, public works, and service sectors for about 38%. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful. Increased production from recently discovered natural gas deposits will provide a greater share of exports by 1995. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $144 million (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: -1% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $380 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1990) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $26 million; expenditures $30 million, including capital expenditures of $3 million (1991 est.) Exports: $37 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: coffee, timber, cocoa beans partners: Spain 38.2%, Italy 12.2%, Netherlands 11.4%, FRG 6.9%, Nigeria 12.4% (1988) Imports: $63.0 million (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery partners: France 25.9%, Spain 21.0%, Italy 16%, US 12.8%, Netherlands 8%, FRG 3.1%, Gabon 2.9%, Nigeria 1.8% (1988) External debt: $213 million (1990) Industrial production: growth rate 6.8% (1990 est.) Electricity: 23,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: fishing, sawmilling Agriculture: cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops - rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89) $130 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $55 million Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)
*Equatorial Guinea, Economy
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
*Equatorial Guinea, Communications
Highways: Rio Muni - 2,460 km; Bioko - 300 km Ports: Malabo, Bata Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,413 GRT/6,699 DWT; includes 1 cargo and 1 passenger-cargo Airports: total: 3 usable: 3 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: poor system with adequate government services; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; 2,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Equatorial Guinea, Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 84,323; fit for military service 42,812 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Eritrea, Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea between Djibouti and Sudan Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 121,320 km2 land area: 121,320 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania Land boundaries: total 1,630 km, Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km Coastline: 1,151 km (land and island coastline is 2,234 km) Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except on coast desert Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plan, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil, fish Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 2% (coffee) meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 5% other: 50% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: frequent droughts, famine; deforestation; soil eroision; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare Note: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields, Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993
*Eritrea, People
Population: 3,467,087 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.46% (1993 est.) Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean Ethnic divisions: ethnic Tigrays 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3% Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant Languages: Tigre and Kunama, Cushitic dialects, Tigre, Nora Bana, Arabic Literacy: NA% Labor force: NA
*Eritrea, Government
Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: none local short form: none former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia Digraph: ER Type: transitional government note: on 29 May 1991 ISSAIAS Afeworke, secretary general of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), announced the formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE), in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the autonomous region of Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote for independence that was announced on 27 April 1993 Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera) Administrative divisions: NA Independence: 27 April 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region) Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993 Legal system: NA National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May (1993) Political parties and leaders: Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) (Christian Muslim), ISSAIAS Aferworke, PETROS Soloman; Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) (Muslim), ABDULLAH Muhammed; Eritrean Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO), leader NA Other political or pressure groups: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP); numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since Mengistu's resignation, including several Islamic militant groups Suffrage: NA Elections: multinational election before 20 May 1997 Executive branch: president, Eritrean National Council Legislative branch: National Assembly Judicial branch: Judiciary Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President ISSAIAS Aferworke Member of: OAU, UN, UNCTAD
*Eritrea, Government