Chapter 79
Irrigated land: 12,580 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
@Morocco:People
Population: 30,391,423 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 37% (male 5,730,322; female 5,552,490) 15-64 years: 59% (male 8,832,635; female 8,949,126) 65 years and over: 4% (male 629,816; female 697,034) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.02% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 26.83 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.08 years male : 68.04 years female: 72.21 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.47 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 43.7% male : 56.6% female: 31% (1995 est.)
@Morocco:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form : Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib
Data code: MO
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Rabat
Administrative divisions: 36 provinces and 5 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Assa-Zag, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Es Smara, Fes*, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech*, Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit note : decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available
Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King HASSAN II's accession to the throne)
Constitution: 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961) head of government: Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the king elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch; prime minister appointed by the king
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Representatives or Majlis Nawab (333 seats; 222 elected by popular vote, 111 indirectly elected by an electoral college made up of government, professional, and labor representatives; members serve six-year terms); note - bicameral legislature to be introduced in September 1997; members of the upper house will be indirectly elected to serve nine-year terms, with one-third of the members renewed every three years; members of the lower house will be directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms elections: popular elections last held 15 June 1993; indirect elections last held 17 September 1993 (next election will be for the new bicameral legislature with both indirect and popular elections scheduled to be held in September 1997) election results: popular elections - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - USFP 48, IP 43, MP 33, RNI 28, UC 27, PND 14, MNP 14, PPS 6, PDI 3, SAP 2, PA 2, OADP 2; indirect elections - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC 27, MP 18, RNI 13, MNP 11, PND 10, IP 7, Party of Shura and Istiqlal 6, USFP 4, PPS 4, CDT 4, UTM 3, UGTM 2, SAP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the king
Political parties and leaders: opposition : Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Abderrahman YOUSSFI; Istiqlal Party (IP), M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA; Organization of Democratic and Popular Action (OADP), Mohamed Ben SAID; Democratic Socialist Party, Issa al-OUARDIGHI pro-government: Constitutional Union (UC), Abdelatif SEMLALI; Popular Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER; National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI; National Popular Movement (MNP), Mahjoubi AHARDANE; National Democratic Movement, Mohamed AARCHANE independents: National Rally of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN; Democracy and Istiqlal Party (PDI), leader NA; Action Party (PA), Abdullah SENHAJI; Non-Obedience Candidates (SAP), leader NA labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections only) : Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), Nabir AMAOUI; General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), Abderrazzak AFILAL; Moroccan Union of Workers (UTM), Mahjoub BENSEDIQ; Party of Shura and Istiqlal, Abdelwaheb MAASH; Labor Union Commissions, leader NA
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone : [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc C. GINSBERG embassy : 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 003, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (7) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (7) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
Economy - overview: Morocco faces the typical problems of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within manageable bounds. Since the early 1980s the government has pursued an economic program toward these objectives with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The dirham is now fully convertible for current account transactions; reforms of the financial sector have been implemented; and 43 state enterprises have been privatized. Drought conditions in three of the last four years have depressed activity in the key agricultural sector, holding down exports and contributing to a 7.5% contraction in real GDP in 1995. Favorable rainfall in 1996 nurtured a record wheat crop and contributed to the 9% overall growth. Servicing the large external debt, preparing the economy for freer trade with the European Union, and finding jobs for Morocco's youthful population remain long-term problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $97.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 9% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,260 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 30% services: 49% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 5% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 7.4 million by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $10.4 billion expenditures: $10.75 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 3.79 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 10.17 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 385 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Exports: total value: $7.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities : food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% (1995 est.) partners : EU 63%, Japan 7.7%, India 6.6%, US 3.4%, Libya 3.4% (1996 est.)
Imports: total value: $9.8 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw materials 16%, fuel and lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%, consumer goods 9% (1995 est.) partners: EU 57%, US 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.3%, Brazil 2.8% (1996 est.)
Debt - external: $23.4 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $297 million (1993) note : $2.8 billion debt canceled by Saudi Arabia (1991)
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.018 (January 1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992)
Fiscal year: July 1-June 30
@Morocco:Communications
Telephones: 270,100 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat; secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan international : 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 0
Radios: 5.527 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 26 (repeaters 26)
Televisions: 1.21 million (1993 est.)
@Morocco:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1003 km electrified; 246 km double track) (1994)
Highways: total : 60,513 km paved: 30,438 km (including 113 km of expressways) unpaved: 30,075 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km (abandoned); natural gas 241 km
Ports and harbors: Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla
Merchant marine: total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 180,172 GRT/261,213 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 7, container 2, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 62 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 35 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m : 11 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m : 15 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 7,779,077 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 4,927,589 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 336,969 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.38 billion (1995)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 4.1% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco contests as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the increase for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________
MOZAMBIQUE
@Mozambique:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 801,590 sq km land : 784,090 sq km water: 17,500 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,571 km border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline: 2,470 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical to subtropical
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 18% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones
Environment - current issues: a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
@Mozambique:People
Population: 18,165,476 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 4,021,791; female 4,136,853) 15-64 years: 53% (male 4,678,819; female 4,910,085) 65 years and over: 2% (male 173,177; female 244,751) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.6% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 44.33 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 18.31 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 122.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.85 years male: 43.71 years female: 46.02 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.11 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages: Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 40.1% male: 57.7% female: 23.3% (1995 est.)
@Mozambique:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form : Republica Popular de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique
Data code: MZ
Government type: republic
National capital: Maputo
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution: 30 November 1990
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986); note - before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected president by FRELIMO's Central Committee 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since NA December 1994) cabinet : Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 27 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO elected president; percent of vote - Joaquim CHISSANO 53.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 33.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secret ballot to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 27-29 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999) election results: percent of vote by party - Frelimo 44.33%, RENAMO 33.78%, Democratic Union 5.15%, other 16.74%; seats by party - Frelimo 129, RENAMO 112, Democratic Union 9 note: the presidential and legislative elections took place as called for in the 1992 peace accords; RENAMO participated in the elections
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president and judges elected by the Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Front for the Liberation of Mozambique or FRELIMO [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, chairman]; Mozambique National Resistance or RENAMO [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]; Democratic Union or DU [Antonio PALANGE, general secretary]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Peter Michael McKINLEY embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo telephone : [258] (1) 492797 FAX: [258] (1) 490114
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book
Economy
Economy - overview: One of Africa's poorest countries, Mozambique has failed to exploit the economic potential of its sizable agricultural, hydropower, and transportation resources. Agricultural output is at only 75% of its 1981 level, and grain has to be imported. Industry operates at only 20%-40% of capacity. Foreign assistance programs supply the foreign exchange required to pay for imports of goods and services. The peace accord, signed in October 1992, has improved Mozambique's prospects. The restoration of electrical transmission lines to South Africa and the completion of a new transmission line to Zimbabwe (permitting the giant Cahora Bassa hydropower plant to export large amounts of electricity), proposed construction of a natural gas pipeline to South Africa, and reform of transportation services will greatly improve foreign exchange receipts. The Mozambique and South African governments are developing the Maputo corridor, linking the port of Maputo with Witbank, South Africa. In the past few years, more than 500 state enterprises have been privatized, including the country's largest commercial bank and a number of sizable manufacturing firms. Other pending reform measures are the privatization of customs operations, the reform of tax collection, and the facilitation of private enterprise in the transportation, energy, and telecommunications sectors.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $670 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 12% services : 55% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 22% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA by occupation: 80% engaged in agriculture note: in 1993, 47% of the wage earners were employed in industry, 28% in transportation and communication; traditionally, a large number of Mozambicans work abroad
Unemployment rate: 50% (1989 est.)
Budget: revenues: $252 million expenditures : $607 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1993 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 2.36 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 490 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 45 kWh (1993)
Agriculture - products: cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits; beef, poultry
Exports: total value : $169 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: shrimp 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra, citrus partners: Spain, South Africa, US, Portugal, Japan
Imports: total value: $784 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities : food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum partners: South Africa 44%, UK, France, Japan, Portugal
Debt - external: $5.5 billion (1995)
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1 - 11,455.0 (December 1996), 11,293.8 (1996), 9,024.3 (1995), 6,038.6 (1994), 3,874.2 (1993), 2,516.5 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Mozambique:Communications
Telephones: 59,000 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: fair system of tropospheric scatter, open-wire lines, and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter international : satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 700,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 44,000 (1992 est.)
@Mozambique:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,131 km narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 29,810 km paved: 5,545 km unpaved : 24,265 km (1995 est.) note: highway traffic impeded by land mines not removed at end of civil war
Waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes
Pipelines: crude oil (not operating) 306 km; petroleum products 289 km
Ports and harbors: Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba
Merchant marine: total : 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,694 GRT/9,724 DWT (1996 est.)
Airports: 129 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 85 over 3,047 m : 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m : 10 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 65 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m : 12 914 to 1,523 m: 32 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Militia
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,149,766 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 2,390,791 (1997 est.)