Chapter 99
Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1 - 2,500 (November 1996), 1,610 (May 1995), 129.59 (1 July 1993), 230 (1992), 260.0 (November 1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Sao Tome and Principe:Communications
Telephones: 2,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 33,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1992 est.)
Televisions: NA
@Sao Tome and Principe:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total : 310 km paved: 211 km unpaved: 99 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Merchant marine: total : 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,096 GRT/1,105 DWT (1996 est.)
Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Security Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 36,127 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 18,898 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
SAUDI ARABIA
@Saudi Arabia:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 1,960,582 sq km land: 1,960,582 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries: total: 4,415 km border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified territorial sea : 12 nm
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 56% forests and woodland: 1% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
@Saudi Arabia:People
Population: 20,087,965 (July 1997 est.) note : includes 5,164,790 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 4,389,113; female 4,252,034) 15-64 years: 55% (male 6,561,725; female 4,410,589) 65 years and over: 2% (male 246,894; female 227,610) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.42% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 37.94 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.18 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.49 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: 1.49 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.51 years male: 67.72 years female: 71.4 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Arabic
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62.8% male: 71.5% female: 50.2% (1995 est.)
@Saudi Arabia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conventional short form: Saudi Arabia local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Data code: SA
Government type: monarchy
National capital: Riyadh
Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)
National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution: none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the king and includes many royal family members elections: none; the king is an absolute monarch
Legislative branch: a consultative council (60 members and a chairman appointed by the king for four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders: none allowed
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS (pending member), CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 consulate(s) general : Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr. embassy : Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy-Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800 FAX : [966] (1) 488-7360 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
Economy - overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Economic (as well as political) ties with the US are especially strong. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 35% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. For the 1990s the government intends to bring its budget, which has been in deficit since 1983, back into balance, and to encourage private economic activity. Roughly four million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. For over a decade, Saudi Arabia's domestic and international outlays have outstripped its income, and the government has cut its foreign assistance and is beginning to rein in domestic programs. A substantial rise in oil prices was the key to a successful 1996. For 1997, the country looks to its policies of maintaining moderate fiscal reforms, restraining public spending, and encouraging non-oil exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $205.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,600 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 9% industry: 50% services: 41% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 1% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 6 million-7 million by occupation: government 40%, industry, construction, and oil 25%, services 30%, agriculture 5% note: 35.87% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues : $43.7 billion expenditures: $48.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate: 17% (1994 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 20.9 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 62.75 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 3,228 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Exports: total value: $53.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90% partners: Japan 18%, US 15%, South Korea 10%, Singapore 7%, France 4% (1995 est.)
Imports: total value : $25.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles partners: US 21%, UK 9%, Germany 8%, Japan 8%, Switzerland 5%, France 5% (1995 est.)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon
Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate since June 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Saudi Arabia:Communications
Telephones: 1.46 million (1993)
Telephone system: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and fiber-optic cable systems international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0
Radios: 5 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 80
Televisions: 4.5 million (1993 est.)
@Saudi Arabia:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,390 km standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
Highways: total: 159,000 km paved: 67,893 km unpaved: 91,107 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)
Ports and harbors: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Al Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine: total : 79 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 998,503 GRT/1,417,265 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 7, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 24, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 9 (1996 est.)
Airports: 174 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 79 over 3,047 m: 30 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m : 3 under 914 m: 13 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 95 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 66 914 to 1,523 m : 24 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Public Security Force, Ministry of Interior Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 5,498,492 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 3,057,533 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 176,060 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $13.3 billion (1996 budget)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 10% (1996); note - based on 1996 budget figure
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: large section of boundary with Yemen not defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; in 1996, agreed with Qatar to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing
Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin and cocaine ______________________________________________________________________
SENEGAL
@Senegal:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries: total: 2,640 km border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline: 531 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: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location in the Futa Jaldon foothills 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land : 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 54% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 710 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
@Senegal:People
Population: 9,403,546 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,259,765; female 2,270,363) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,190,263; female 2,418,385) 65 years and over: 3% (male 130,742; female 134,028) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.35% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 44.91 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 11.4 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: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.93 years male: 54.15 years female: 59.79 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.24 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups: Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur 9%, Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%
Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 33.1% male: 43% female: 23.2% (1995 est.)
@Senegal:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form : Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal
Data code: SG
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
National capital: Dakar
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence: 4 April 1960 from France; complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 (The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution: 3 March 1963, revised 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; Senegal has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections : president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdou DIOUF reelected president; percent of vote - Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 70%, PDS 23%, other 7%; seats by party - PS 84, PDS 27, LD-MPT 3, AND/JEF-PADS 3, PIT 2, UDS-R 1
Judicial branch: under the terms of a reform of the judicial system implemented in 1992, the principal organs of the judiciary are as follows; Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cessation; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders: African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AND/JEF-PADS [Landing SAVANE, secretary-general]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP Garab-Gi [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Independent Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; Let Us Unite Senegal (coalition of African Party for Democracy and Socialism and National Democratic Rally); National Democratic Rally or RND [Madier DIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]; Senegalese Democratic Union-Renewal or UDS-R [Mamadou Puritain FALL]; Socialist Party or PS [President Abdou DIOUF]; other small uninfluential parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: students; teachers; labor; Muslim Brotherhoods
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone : [1] (202) 234-0540, 0541
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dane Farnsworth SMITH, Jr. (5 August 1996) embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: [221] 23 42 96, 23 34 24 FAX: [221] 22 29 91
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy - overview: In 1994 Senegal embarked on its most concerted structural adjustment effort yet to exploit the 50% devaluation of the currencies of the 14 Francophone African nations which took place on 12 January of that year. After years of foot-dragging, the government passed a liberalized labor code which should lower the cost of labor and improve the manufacturing sector's competitiveness. Inroads also have been made in closing tax loopholes, eliminating monopoly power in several sectors, and privatizing state-owned firms. At the same time, the government is holding the line on current fiscal expenditure under the watchful eyes of international organizations on which it depends for substantial support. The IMF, in mid-1995, announced that the government met most economic targets as called for in its Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement and released the second $50 million tranche. The country's narrow tax and resource base, environmental degradation, and untamed growth of the population will continue to hold back improvement in living standards over the medium term. According to the draft budget, GDP will again rise by 5% in 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $15.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 21% industry: 19% services: 60% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 7.8% (1995)
Labor force: total: 2.509 million (77% are engaged in subsistence farming; 175,000 wage earners) by occupation: private sector 40%, government and parapublic 60%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $876 million expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, petroleum refining, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1994)
Electricity - capacity: 303,440 kW
Electricity - production: 1.027 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 109 kWh (1997 est.)
Agriculture - products: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Exports: total value: $968 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton partners : France, other EU countries, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali
Imports: total value: $1.22 billion (f.o.b., 1995.) commodities: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods, petroleum products partners: France 30%, other EU countries, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, China, Japan
Debt - external: $4.1 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $439 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 541.69 (January 1997), 511.55 (1966), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Senegal:Communications
Telephones: 81,988 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber optic cable in trunk system international : 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 6, shortwave 1
Radios: 850,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1