AFRICAN TRADER - Agribusiness & Food

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Kenana shows the way Project News from around Africa A different take on farming Extruding new snack opportunities

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Agribusiness & Food

Kenana shows the way Many perceive a lack of commercial-grade agriculture in Africa, but Kenana Sugar Company is one of the companies quietly building global dominance in its industry sector.

By Brian Bakker The history of Kenana Sugar Company (KSC) stretches back to the early 1970s when Sudan was identified among the countries that could potentially help meet world food supply needs. This was based on the fact that Sudan comprises vast tracts of arable land, an abundant water supply through the Nile river system, plentiful annual rainfall and an abundance of underground water.

In June 1972, the Sudanese government signed an agreement with Lonrho to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a large sugar company. Three years later, the founders’ agreement was signed to form KSC and the government allocated 68 000 hectares of land at a favourable price, while also granting customs and taxation concessions to the new company.

Rowland’s brainchild The Institute of Developing Economies – Japan External Trade Organisation (IDE-JETRO) credits Lonrho’s Tiny Rowland for the plan that led to the establishment of KSC. After a long gestation period during which capital costs of $1 billion had to be raised and construction contracts signed, notes the organisation’s website, the factory’s foundation stone was laid in 1976 and four years later, the plant began processing sugar cane.

For the first decade of its life, KSC produced only for domestic consumption but, in 1991, the company began to export its produce. Since then,

the company has extended its product portfolio beyond sugar production by maximising the value of by-products, while also branching out into new areas of endeavour.

According to Summit Communications, KSC has now become the world’s largest producer of white sugar. In a company profile on the website www.summitreports.com, the organisation notes that continuous upgrading and expansion of KSC’s sophisticated irrigation system has boosted annual production to more than 400 000 tons, enough for substantial export to other African markets and Europe, in addition to supplying the fast-growing domestic market.

A public-private partnership between the Sudanese government and mainly Arab investors, the KSC refinery is one of five sugar factories in Sudan – the other four, run by the Sudanese Sugar Company, are state owned.

The Sudanese government is on record as wanting to increase sugar export volumes and is calling for more investment in the industry.

Overall production has risen steadily over the past 15 years, from 290 000 tons in 1990 to more than one million tons today. With sufficient investment, some analysts believe Sudan could increase its production to five million tons annually.

Expansion plans Meanwhile, plans are afoot to increase KSC’s own output of refined sugar. The company’s managing director, Osman Abdalla Elnazir, has said that

domestic demand is increasing by at least 30% per year, primarily as a result of the massive expansion in Sudanese food industries.

Consequently, production from KSC’s own fields is being supplemented by refining imported raw sugar. “Instead of 400 000 tons of sugar, we will be producing 600 000 tons,” Elnazir has predicted.

KSC has also been busy diversifying its business interests. IDE-JETRO reports that today, the company produces and ships sugar, ethanol, animal feed, charcoal (from bagasse, a by-product of sugar production) and molasses to markets in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Furthermore, a subsidiary called Kenana Friesland, which is an association with a Dutch company, is the largest supplier of dairy products in the country and produces milk, yoghurt and cheese. Kenana also runs a training operation, the Kenana Engineering and Technical Services (KETS), that provides effective consulting and engineering services to the agro-industrial sector, with the emphasis on the sugar industry. That division also manages a wide variety of businesses and participates in tenders for the construction of refineries in Kenya and Ghana.

Other projects in various stages of development include floriculture, yeast, industrial alcohol and paper. Research has led to the commercial production of crops such as sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, sorghum, maize and peanuts.

Agribusiness & Food

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Project news South Africa

Namibia

Apple and pear juice concentrate plant expansion

New fisheries office complex and hatchery

In August fruit and vegetable juice concentrate producer, Ceres Fruit Processors, is commencing with a project to nearly double capacity at its apple and pear concentrate production facility in the Western Cape.

MD Anton Reinecke explains that the projected changes in planted apple and pear varieties will result in a shorter processing season compared to a few years ago, necessitating the need to address the current plant capacity.

Reinecke says that the expansion will include the purchase of an additional press, ultra-filtration units, a new evaporator with upgrading to the aroma recovery unit, concentrate storage tanks and improvements to the existing in-feed line.

“These additions will improve the throughput from the current 40t/hour to 60t/hour, which will bring about significant cost savings and fruit logistical advantages for our apple and pear producers,” he states. “By January 2013, we will have invested $7 million in the plant and we expect to be ready for the 2013 season intake.”

Bernard Esau, Namibian Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, recently unveiled a new N$14m ($1.67m) fisheries office complex in Katima Mulilo, which will house 15 staff members of two directorates of aquaculture and operations.

Essau said that the ministry, through these directorates, will promote the development of aquaculture in the region, including the provision of extension services to existing and emerging fish farmers. The Spanish Cooperation in Namibia, together with the ministry, is supporting the construction and firstphase operation of a new aquaculture hatchery beside the regional office.

According to Carmen Sendino, Spanish Cooperation’s head in Namibia, the centre will improve the population’s food security by means of enhancing production, training fish farmers and reinforcing the ministry’s capacities. – New Era

Tanzania

New honey factory The Honey King Limited factory, opened at Kibaha in the coast region, has the capacity to process 10 000 tons of honey annually.

Director Jack Liu says that the company hopes to create employment for over 50 000 Tanzanians by distributing over 20 000 modern beehives over the next five years in the Tabora, Tanga, Dodoma, Arusha, Lindi, Mtwara, Mbeya, Rukwa and Iringa regions. It will also offer technical training to beekeepers so that organic honey can be produced for export to America, Europe and the Middle East. – Tanzania Daily News

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Agribusiness & Food

Project news Rwanda

Industrial parks to boost manufacturing sector

Rwanda

New bean seed brands The Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) has made 12 new high-yielding, nutritious and disease-resistant bean seed brands public.

The beans took 10 years to develop, and the RAB was supported by various agricultural institutions both in and outside Rwanda. – Rwanda Express

Kenya

KARI introduces new indigenous chicken

Industrial development director in the Trade and Industry Ministry, Seth Kwizera, says that the fledging manufacturing sector in Rwanda is largely depending on development of the special economic zone (SEZ) in Kigali, as well as four industrial parks located in the Bugesera, Huye, Nyabihu and Rusizi districts.

According to Kwizera, the parks will be able to accommodate 700 industries and are currently in validation phase. “These parks will make it easier for investors to get land and other services, such as infrastructure and energy.”

He adds that the estimated cost to construct the 200ha Bugesera Industrial Park has been placed at RWF16bn ($26.7m). The Huye, Rusizi and Nyabihu industrial parks – which will be 50ha each – have cost estimates of RWF8bn ($13.4m), RWF11bn ($18.3m) and RWF10bn ($16.7m) respectively.

Kwizera anticipates that the SEZ will be implemented in three phases, with the first two phases covering some 277ha, and the final phase approximately 134ha. – African Review

The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) has introduced a new breed of indigenous chicken, which it says produces more eggs and meat and can be reared under free-range and organic conditions.

According to KARI, if kept in good conditions and depending on the management system, a hen can produce between 220 and 280 eggs a year. With 6.2kg of good quality feed given in five months and careful chicken husbandry, the institute says a hen can attain 1.5kg in weight, while a cock consuming 6.8kg of feed will weigh up to 2.1kg.

Senior researcher Dr Ann Wachira explains that unlike other chicken breeds in the market, it is easy to differentiate between hens and cockerels as the hens are black in colour, while the cockerels are speckled.

Wachira says that to meet demand for the breed, the institute has acquired a incubator for 35 000 eggs. Fertile eggs sell for 600 shillings ($7) for a tray of 30, dayold chicken for 80 shillings ($0.94), four week-old chicks at 180 shillings ($2.12), and breeding cocks for 800 shillings ($9.44). – The Star

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Agribusiness & Food

Project news Nigeria

Egypt

Jigawa to benefit from improved cowpea and maize seeds

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) will distribute 500kg of improved cowpea and 500kg of improved maize seeds to the Jigawa State Agricultural Development Programme for planting in demonstration plots across the state.

“The seeds harvested from these plots will then be given to farmers ahead of the 2013 planting season, amplifying the benefits of improved technologies to farmers in the state,” says Dr Kenton Dashiell, IITA’s deputy director-general of Partnerships and Capacity Building.

“The institute will also be delivering improved cassava planting materials for multiplication and the production of highquality cassava flour that can be used by bakers and in the confectionery industry,” Dashiell states. “Additionally, we will assist the government by linking buyers to the Jigawa state cassava starch factory, which has an installed processing capacity of four tons of cassava roots per hour and aims to add value to cassava.” – Vanguard

Wheat experiment produces dramatic yield boost Egyptian scientists say a national experiment, carried out at more than a thousand sites in 22 governorates, achieved an average 30% increase in wheat productivity and boosted the average national yield to 10t/hectare.

According to Eman Sadek, head of the National Campaign for Wheat Improvement at theAgricultural ResearchCouncil (ARC), the increased yield was made possible through the use of high-yielding, disease-resistant, heat-tolerant wheat varieties developed by the ARC, as well as the implementation of new agricultural methods.

Sadek explains that the use of a raisedbed planting method for the project lowered the reliance on irrigated water by 33% and reduced the number of seeds used by 50%.

Fawzi Karajeh, regional coordinator for the Nile Valley and sub-Saharan Africa Programme at the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), says that a 10t yield could enable the country to meet 75% of its own wheat needs within three years.

Karajeh adds that the Egyptian experience will be transferred to Jordan, Morocco, Sudan, Syria and Tunisia as part of ICARDA’s Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries project. – SciDev.Net

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Agribusiness & Food

A different take on farming Aquaponics is a farming system that combines hydroponics (water-based planting) and aquaculture (fish farming), while using up to 90% less water than traditional farming methods.

Aquaponics produces two profit centres: plants and fish. The plants use the nutrients from fish effluent for growth, while detoxifying the water. Water is then returned back to the fish tanks, cleaned and recycled.

Gina Gallinetti of MyAquaponics and Ken Koschel of Aquaponics Africa believe aquaponics is the future of farming. This, they say, will be driven by the increasing cost of road transportation and shipping freight, as well as disruptions to the delivery of food such as strikes, fuel shortages, extreme weather conditions and lack of infrastructure, all of which will force food suppliers to rather grow and sell locally.

Aquaponics produces two profit centres: plants and fish. The plants use the nutrients from fish effluent for growth, while detoxifying the water. Water is then returned back to the fish tanks, cleaned and recycled.

Native to Africa Tilapia, a freshwater, plant-eating fish native to Africa, is the fish of choice in aquaponics systems. Although there are around 24

different species, the Red Breast Tilapia is best suited to aquaponics as it grows in a variety of environmental conditions, breeds easily in captivity, is efficient at converting feed to fish meat and has a mild flavour that appeals to consumers.

A wide variety of green leafy vegetables and fruiting plants such as green beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, herbs, mustard greens, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes and baby marrows can be grown in aquaponics systems. These systems do not grow root vegetables, like potatoes or carrots, or perennials, such as berry bushes or asparagus.

Colle Davis, CEO of US-based Portable Farms, says: “The aquaponics industry is evolving to grow as much food with as little

energy, water and labour as possible to feed the world.”

Effective and efficient “The initial investment in a commercial aquaponics system is paid back in as little as two to three years, making the return on investment very attractive. A well-designed aquaponics system will produce enough food to feed one adult, year round, forever and maintain optimal health, with only 2.3m<Superscript>2 to 3.5m<Superscript>2 of growing space. “This makes aquaponics one of the most effective and efficient food production systems in the world. It also means that a small backyard aquaponics farmer can expand the size of his aquaponics system to grow food for their own family and produce organic vegetables and home-

Agribusiness & Food grown fish for sale in their local community,” he states.

Davis explains that the annual production from Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems varies depending on the size of the unit: • A 3m x 6m unit produces 1 100 vegetables and 180kg of fish.

• A 7.3m x 14m unit produces 8 600 vegetables and 2 550kg of fish.

• A 30m x 30m unit produces 80 000 vegetables and 10 400kg of fish, enough to feed 240 people for a year.

available. Some of these systems operate on different techniques, such as deep-water culture, nutrient film technique, and flood and drain. The core of all these systems is, however, the fish tank or pond.

Higher densities For aquaponics to be economically feasible in an enclosed indoor tank system, Gallinetti and Koschel say that fish and plants need to be grown at much higher densities than they would grow in the wild or fields. Due to nutrients being readily available and already broken down by the beneficial bacteria, roots of plants no longer need to grow sideways to look for nutrients, which allows for denser stocking of plants, leading to a greater produce output.

However, to provide a good quality of life for the fish and to avoid diseases, they recommend that only 40kg of fish per 1 000 litres of water be stocked. While there is no single recommended or standard tank system, there are some basic components that the system must have. These include a combination of tanks, pumps and filters of varying sizes and shapes, as well as planter boxes or grow beds for the plants.

The most important components are the oxygen system and water quality control.

Oxygen must be continuously supplied to the tanks and a back-up system for power outages is therefore recommended.

Land and buildings will depend on the fish being farmed, but an enclosed system in a greenhouse is preferable to allow for control over environmental factors, such as temperature, water quality and shelter from changing climatic conditions.

Aquaculturists maintain the key to successful fish farming is stress management – changes in temperature and water quality can affect fish stress levels. Care should also be taken at all times to reduce build-ups of waste and uneaten fish food, which can increase ammonia levels and result in fish losses.

A flood and drain system is the most suitable for entrepreneurs as it does not require electronic timers or mechanical equipment to control the flood and drain cycle. This type of system is reliable and ensures that the roots of the plants get adequate aeration for healthy growth. It also makes it possible to add worms to the grow media in the planter box, which then eat any solids pumped from the fish tank. As the water feeds back into the fish tank, the splashing oxygenates the water.

In addition, the water pump in the tank also drives a venturi valve that further oxygenates the water.

System types There are many types of commercial and home-based DIY aquaponics systems

“The aquaponics industry is evolving to grow as much food with as little energy, water and labour as possible to feed the world.”

Plant guide You can grow practically any type of vegetables, herbs or fruit in your aquaponics system, except for acid-loving plants, like blueberry bushes.

The plants thrive on the fish waste that is converted into nitrates by the beneficial bacteria in the grow-media.

In order to balance the system in certain instances, you may have to add small quantities of minerals that are safe for the fish. Generally though, there is not much that a small dose of “worm tea” can’t fix. It is advisable, therefore,

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to incorporate vermiculture (growing of worms) in parallel with your aquaponics system.

Space out the plants in the grow bed so that all receive enough sunlight. In this way, you’re able to double up plant density compared to conventional gardening.

Try to mix your plantings for a good variety of vegetables, herbs and fruit. Lettuce is one of the most popular plants seen in aquaponics systems around the world, predominantly because they grow very quickly. Others that you may want to try are tomatoes, cucumber, celery, onions, beans, and strawberries.

Never completely harvest all your plants.

Always leave some plants in the grow bed, and immediately replace those that have been harvested to ensure continuity in the natural cycle of the system.

If the ammonia level gets too high, you can always add more planter boxes to the system.

If possible, cover your plants in clear plastic with adequate ventilation, or with a net, to prevent insects and bugs from attacking them.

Maintenance Daily maintenance of an aquaponics system requires water quality testing as needed, filling of feeders, cleaning of piping and equipment, visual verification that all systems are in order and record-keeping to document any changes and note yields. Stocking, sampling and harvesting of tanks and planter boxes are required periodically. - FoodProcessing Africa Useful websites: www.aquaponicsafrica.co.za; www.myaquaponics.co.za; www.portablefarm.com

Tilapia is a freshwater, plant-eating fish native to Africa and the fish of choice in aquaponics systems.

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Agribusiness & Food

Extruding new snack opportunities FoodProcessing Africa investigates extrusion in the growing African savoury snack market, the trends in different markets and the equipment available to service the needs of producers in this sector.

Mounted on a Heat and Control platform (R–L ): Climback System, Fastback Revolution Gate System and Fastback On Machine Seasoning System.

Source Heat and Control

Although designing snack foods today can be a complex process to meet changing consumer tastes and expectations, extrusion technology provides snack makers with the opportunity to process a variety of products by changing minor ingredients and processing conditions on the same machine. The extrusion process can therefore produce innovative snacks with different shapes, textures and colours to capture the consumer’s imagination.

Professor LJ Grobler, head of the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing at North West University in South Africa, says: “Extrusion can be described as a process during which a material is forced through a defined opening.

“When extrusion is used for food or feed product manufacturing, mechanical cooking also forms part of the process. Products such as breakfast cereals, puffed chips, animal feed and plastic wood composites can be produced

using this technology.”

He adds that extrusion technology is ideal for establishing small- to medium-sized processing plants on farms or in rural areas to produce food or feed products in close vicinity to where the feed-in produce – such as maize, wheat or sorghum – is grown.

“The global trend is positive for the snack industry and Africa has plenty of opportunity to benefit from a growing snack market.”

“There are many opportunities for developing new products in Africa by using extrusion. It is a relatively inexpensive, energyefficient and easily-operated method to produce a wide range of ready-to-eat foods and animal feeds.”

Market status According to Jeff Rossouw, Heat and Control’s general manager for Africa, the African snack industry has grown considerably over the past few years as companies have invested in an industry that offers certain growth. “The global trend is positive for the snack industry and Africa has plenty of opportunity to benefit from a growing snack market, but there are also significant barriers,” he concedes.

“More often than not, snacks in emerging markets are a replacement meal and not a snack in the true sense of the word,” he states. “Do not be surprised to see a corn or cassava chip soaked in milk eaten as breakfast or mixed with a meat sauce as lunch or dinner.”

Rossouw explains that baked extruded products are popular in markets where distribution channels are limited and roads are bad. “These types of snacks do not travel well and in-bagdamage often occurs. Shelf time for informal

Agribusiness & Food products is often a few days only. Nitrogen gas flush is uncommon. Cost is also a prohibitive factor and price wars are common.

“In South Africa’s informal market, for example, prices have remained almost unchanged for the past 10 years due to fierce competition. In certain countries where temperatures are extremely hot, processors often use thicker BOPP film to overcome quality problems resulting from the environment, despite short shelf time.

“Outside of South Africa and especially in East and West Africa, homemade snacks are sold through street vendors and many home-style snacks do not always lend themselves to commercial processing.

With many subsistence farmers producing raw products such as potato, cassava, yam, taro and plantain, quality is still a subjective term.

Commercially-viable volumes can only be produced if quality is ensured through proper agronomy,” Rossouw remarks.

Gary Boast of Nicola J Flavours & Fragrances confirms that the most popular snacks remain extruded puffs and naks, with some regions preferring them with a high level of chilli or “heat”, while others prefer much milder flavours. “Broadly speaking, the old favourites such as cheese, spicy tomato, chutney and beef are the common sellers, often with their own local twist.”

Rossouw adds: “In Nigeria you will find a seafood flavour called ‘snoek’ that has its origins in Scandinavian fish imported years ago. The taste is not remotely close to the game fish known in South Africa.”

The challenges Boast says a lack of market research, funding, bureaucracy and punitive duties and levies are all barriers to growth in the African snack market. “Many business people have no access to market research or indeed there isn’t any. They therefore find it difficult to maximise potential, identify opportunities for different products and expand existing markets.

Funding is always a problem, leading to many businesses being under-capitalised and thus unable to grow.”

Rossouw adds that import duties, transit services and raw material or energy source supply are also big barriers. “Prohibitive import duties on raw materials or significant equipment investment, rather than consumer preference, often determine future trends.

“Raw pellet snacks are, for example, taxed between 5% and 20% depending on the raw materials they contain. A real barrier to entry is also the capital tied up as stock in transit when shipping from abroad,” he says.

Even with all the barriers to entry in the market

outlined above, Rossouw says that there are some opportunities to be exploited. “With a strong Indian influence throughout Africa, there are opportunities to produce Namkeen (Indian) snacks with an African ‘twist’.

“And if the trend to export tree nuts, such as macadamias and cashews, to other emerging countries for further value adding and processing can be reversed, a whole new industry can be established with all the socio-economic benefits that go with this.

Coated spicy nuts have already been established as a good product line in certain regions,” he adds.

Rossouw believes that the potential for pellettype snacks is huge as equipment investment is reasonably low and the producer can run any number of different raw pellets and offer a basket of products with bases such as corn, potato, rice and multigrain, using one machine. He says the product range for the smaller, entrepreneurial-type of processor, so often found in Africa, is very limited and that the initial investments required are out of reach for most.

“The typical system that would be replacing roadside woks would be a small gas or electricallyheated batch fryer. The availability of gas, electricity and the fact that these types of units are not mobile poses a challenge, as most vendors pack up their shops at the end of a trading day. These machines are more suitable to fixed premises with a services supply in place.”

Boast adds that small-scale producers often have difficulty obtaining the volumes required to be profitable due to a lack of funding. “Producing snack foods is generally a low-profit, high-volume business, making economies of scale necessary to achieve profitability.” - FoodProcessing Africa

Snack Quip’s low-oil volume fried line uses external heat exchanger technology, allowing different fuel options. Source Snack Quip

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Equipment considerations “Potential snack manufacturers should select a company to supply not only the equipment, but also all of the surrounding services, including assistance with sourcing raw materials, flavouring and packaging,” says a Snack Quip spokesperson. “They should ensure that the prospective equipment supply company can offer them growth with innovative new ideas and the ability to implement service into Africa.”

The spokesperson adds: “We also advise clients not to underestimate the quality demanded by the little client, even in outlying rural conditions. People across Africa demand very high quality products and high-quality machinery is required to achieve this.”

Jeff Rossouw of Heat and Control says that one of the most common mistakes made by inexperienced processors or investors is to buy equipment on price alone or to acquire secondhand equipment from a reputable manufacturer that has been modified by an equipment broker.

“The cheaper equipment often has no history of research and development, resulting in failure and unreliability. And the original equipment manufacturer parts are more often than not unknown brands and not readily available for emergency maintenance.

“Second-hand equipment, on the other hand, is often more than 20 years old and has been modified over the years or the brokers have matched filter fryers and heat exchangers that were not designed to function together,” he notes.

“Almost every single call we receive on our own brand of second-hand equipment is a case of the latter and endless problems are the order of the day.”

FEATURES: West African Countries Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

Inside Africa Directory

BENIN Benin is considered a model African democracy, and the government is engaged in an ongoing struggle to eliminate corruption and promote economic growth. However, energy issues remain a major stumbling block.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 9,598,787 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.877% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 37.55 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 8.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 60.26 years HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 60,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - Deaths: 2,700 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: 37.4% (2007 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census) Religions: Catholic 27.1%, Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Protestant 10.4% (Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%), other Christian 5.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census) Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) Literacy: 42.4% (2010 estimate)

BACKGROUND The present-day Republic of Benin is the site of the kingdom of Dahomey, which rose to power in the 15th century. The territory was colonised by France in 1872 and obtained its independence in 1960. After a series of military governments, Mathieu Kerekou came to power in 1972 and established a Marxist state. A more representative system was instituted in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore Soglo as president, marking the first successful transition in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. Kerekou was re-elected in 1996 and in 2001 and was succeeded by Thomas Yayi Boni, an independent candidate.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Co-ordinates: 9o 30’N, 2o 15’E Time difference: UTC+1 Area: total: 112,620 km2 land: 110,620 km2 water: 2,000 km2 Land boundaries: 1,989 km Border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km Coastline: 121 km Natural resources: Small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble and timber Land use: arable land: 23.53% permanent crops: 2.37% other: 74.1% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 25.8 km3 (2001) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification GOVERNMENT Type: Republic Capital: Porto-Novo Seat of government: Cotonou Administrative divisions: 12 departments: Alibori, Atakora,

Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou: Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France) Constitution: Adopted by referendum 2 December 1990 Legal system: Based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Executive branch: Chief of state and head of government: President Thomas Yayi Boni (since 6 April 2006) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 13 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2016) Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (7 members; 4 appointed by the National Assembly, 3 appointed by the President; appointed for a 5-year term for one term); Supreme Court (President of the Supreme Court appointed by the President for a 5-year term); High Court of Justice (composed of members of the Constitutional Court and 6 members appointed by the National Assembly) ECONOMY The economy of Benin is underdeveloped and depends on subsistence agriculture, cotton production and regional trade.

Growth has averaged around 5% in the last seven years, but this is offset by rapid population growth. The government plans to attract more foreign investment, develop tourism, facilitate the processing of agricultural products and encourage new information and communication technology. Reforms to the land tenure system, the justice system and the financial sector are included in Benin’s $307 million Millennium Challenge Account grant, which was signed in 2006. Privatisation policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity and agriculture. As a result of these reforms, Benin has become the most competitive country in the West African Economic and Monetary Union, according to the World Economic Forum. Although an insufficient electricity supply continues to adversely affect Benin’s economic growth, the government has recently taken steps to increase domestic power production. Benin continues to be adversely affected by Nigerian trade protection bans. Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate against piracy in commercial shipping in its territory.

Inside Africa Directory

FINANCIAL Budget - revenue: $1.378 billion expenditure: $1.69 billion (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$559.5 million (2011 est.)

Economic aid: $374.7 million (2006) External debt: $2.894 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Currency: Communauté Financière Africaine franc (XOF) Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine franc (XOF) (XOF) per US dollar - 473.7 (2011 est.), 495.28 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) Fiscal year: calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $14.87 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 3.1% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $1,500 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 36% industry: 6.4% services: 57.6% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 3.3% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 3.662 million (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate: No statistics available INDUSTRIES Textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement AGRICULTURE Cotton, corn, cassava (manioc), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock ELECTRICITY Production: 128 million kWh (2008 est.)

C Consumption: ti 653 million illi kWh (200 (2008 0008 est.) t) Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Imports: 651 million kWh (2008 est.)

OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2009) Consumption: 23,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Exports: 8,770 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Imports: 28,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Proved reserves: 8 million bbl (2010 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Consumption: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 1.133 billion m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

EXPORTS Value: $1.459 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood Partners: India 30.8%, China 20.2%, Indonesia 6.9%, Niger 4.9%, Singapore 4.5%, Nigeria 4.3% (2011) IMPORTS Value: $2.13 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products Partners: China 31.3%, France 12.3%, UK 7.6%, US 6.8%, India 5.8%, Netherlands 4.6%, Belgium 4.3% (2011) COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 133,400 (2010) Telephones - mobile: 7.075 million (2010) Telephone system - general assessment: Inadequate system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; fixed-line network characterised by ageing, deteriorating equipment

ddomestic: i Fixed-line teledensity only about 2 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile providers, cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly international: Country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/ WASC fibre-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; long distance fibre-optic links with Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2008) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1 (2007) Television broadcast stations: State-run broadcaster operates a TV station with multiple channels; several privatelyowned stations Internet country code: .bj Internet users: 200,100 (2009) TRANSPORT Airports: 5 (2012) Airports - with paved runways: 1 (2012) Airports - with unpaved runways: 4 (2012) Railways: 438 km (2008) Roads: 16,000 km (2006) Waterways: 150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2010) Ports and terminals: Cotonou CONTACT DETAILS Embassy of the Republic of Benin 900 Park Streets Cnr Park & Orient Streets Arcadia, 0083 Postal address: P O Box 26484 Arcadia, 0007 Tel: +27 12 342 6978 Fax: +27 12 342 1823 E-mail: embbenin@yebo.co.za

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BURKINA FASO Although Burkina Faso is still largely dependent on subsistence farming, the government is trying to improve its economy by privatising state-owned enterprises and attract foreign investment in its mining sector.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 17,275,115 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.073% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 43.2 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 12.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 54.07 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 110,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - Deaths: 7,100 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: 46.4% (2004) SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani) Religions: Muslim 60.5%, Catholic 19%, animist 15.3%, Protestant 4.2%, other 0.6% Languages: French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population Literacy: 21.8% (2009)

BACKGROUND Land-locked Burkina Faso is the former Upper Volta, a colony of France which became independent in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multi-party elections in the early 1990s. Current president Blaise Compaoré came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every subsequent election. France continues to provide significant aid and supports Compaoré’s developing role as a regional powerbroker. Recent unrest in Côte d’Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in neighbouring countries. Because of Burkina Faso’s high population density and limited natural resources, the economic prospects for the majority of its citizens are poor.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: Surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the south-east, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d’Ivoire to the south-west Co-ordinates: 13o 00’N, 2o 00’W Time difference: UTC 0 Area: total: 274,200 km2 land: 273,800 km2 water: 400 km2 Land boundaries: 3,193 km Border countries: Benin 306 km, Côte d’Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km Natural resources: Manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt Land use: arable land: 17.66% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 82.12% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 17.5 km3 (2001) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation GOVERNMENT Type: Parliamentary republic Capital: Ouagadougou

Seat of government: Ouagadougou Administrative divisions: 45 provinces Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France) Constitution: 2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991 formally adopted; last amended January 2002 Legal system: Based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Executive branch: Chief of state: President Blaise Compaoré (since 15 October 1987) Head of government: Prime Minister Prime Minister LucAdolphe (since 18 April 2011) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister Elections: President elected by popular vote for a fiveyear term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature ECONOMY With one of the lowest GDP per capita incomes in the world, ranked as the 127th poorest nation, Burkina Faso has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to periodic drought. Unemployment causes a high rate of emigration and three million citizens of Burkina Faso live in Côte d’Ivoire. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has embarked upon a gradual but successful privatisation of state-owned enterprises and its investment code was revised in 2004. Thanks to this new code and other legislation favouring the mining sector, the country has seen an upswing in gold exploration and production. A $480-million compact with the US Millennium Challenge Corporation was granted in July 2008 as a reward for free-market and democratic reforms. This is being used to improve schools, build and upgrade roads and invest in agriculture and land reform. In 2010 gold became the main source of export revenue and two new mining projects were launched in 2011. The prime minister has made efforts to defuse public discontent by reducing income tax, compensating victims of looting and subsidising food and fertilizer. An IMF mission to Burkina Faso in October 2011 expressed satisfaction with these measures.

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FINANCIAL Budget - revenue: $2.208 billion expenditure: $2.595 billion (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$1.106 billion (2011 est.)

Economic aid: $659.6 million (2005) External debt: $2.479 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Currency: Communauté Financière Africaine franc (XOF) Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 473.7 (2011 est.), 493.51 495.28 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Imports: 144.6 million kWh (2009 est.)

Note: Since January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the Euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per Euro Fiscal year: calendar year

Consumption: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

GDP Purchasing power parity: $22.32 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 5.6% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $1,500 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 34.7% industry: 23.3% services: 42% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 3.6% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 6.668 million Note: A large part of the male labour force migrates annually to neighbouring countries for seasonal employment Unemployment rate: 77% (2004) INDUSTRIES Cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold AGRICULTURE Cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock ELECTRICITY Production: 664.4 million kWh (2009 est.)

Consumption: 683.5 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 8,560 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2009 est.))

EXPORT Value: $1.591 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Gold, cotton, livestock Partners: China 22%, Turkey 17.7%, Singapore 8.8%, Indonesia 7%, Thailand 5.2% (2011) IMPORT Value: $2.25 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum Partners: Côte d’Ivoire 16.4%, France 14.9%, Ghana 4.9%, Togo 4.6%, Belgium 4.1% (2011) COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 144,000 (2009) Telephones - mobile: 5.708 million (2009) Telephone system - general assessment: system includes microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations; in 2006 the government sold a 51% stake in the national telephone company and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake in the company Domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile usage, fostered by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly from a low base International: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007) International country code: 226 Radio broadcast stations: State-owned radio runs a national and regional network; substantial number of privately-owned radio broadcast stations

Television broadcast stations: 2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately-owned Internet country code: .bf Internet users: 178,100 (2009) TRANSPORTATION Airports: 24 (2012) Airports - with paved runways: 2 (2010) Airports - with unpaved (2012) Railways: 622 km (2010) Waterways: 0 Ports and terminals: 0 CONTACT DETAILS Embassy of Burkina Faso 49 Charles Street Bailey’s Muckleneuk Pretoria Tel: +27 12 346 6205/+27 12 346 2704 Fax: +27 12 346 6003

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CAPE VERDE This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages.

Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows and the encouragement of tourism.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 523,568 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.428% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 21.21 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 6.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 71 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.04% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 775 (2001) HIV/AIDS - Deaths: 225 (as of 2001) Population below poverty line: 30% (2000) SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1% Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene) Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words) Literacy: 84.3% (2010)

BACKGROUND These islands were uninhabited when they were discovered and colonised by the Portuguese in the 15th century. They became a trading centre for African slaves and, later, an important supply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and lasted until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Because of the hardship caused by repeated droughts, there was heavy emigration in the late twentieth century, and today more Cape Verdeans live abroad than on the islands. Despite its poverty, Cape Verde has one of Africa’s most stable democratic governments. In June 2008 Cape Verde became a member of the General Council of the World Trade Organisation. It is currently ranked fifth in Africa in terms of the Human Development Index.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: Group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal Note: Cape Verde occupies a strategic location 500 km from the west coast of Africa, near major north-south sea routes. It is an important communications station as well as a sea and air re-fuelling site Co-ordinates: 16o 00’N, 24o 00’W Time difference: UTC-1 (GMT –1) Area: total: 4,033 km2 land: 4,033 km2 water: 0 km2 Land boundaries: 0 km Border countries: N/A Coastline: 965 km Natural resources: Salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay and gypsum Land use: arable land: 11.41% permanent crops: 0.74% other: 87.85% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 0.3 km3 (1990) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification;

environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing GOVERNMENT Type: Republic Capital: Praia Seat of government: Praia Administrative divisions: Islands divided into 22 municipalities and subdivided into 32 parishes Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal) Constitution: 25 September 1992; a major revision on 23 November 1995 substantially increased the powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica) Legal system: Based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Executive branch: Chief of state: President Jorge Carlos Fonesca (since 9 September 2011) Head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira Neves (since 1 February 2001) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 August 2011 with a second round runoff on 21 August 2011; prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president Note: Cape Verde has a Special Partnership status with the UN and might apply for membership ECONOMY Cape Verde is a small nation which lacks natural resources and experiences severe droughts. This restricts agriculture to only four islands for most of the year. Over three-quarters of the nation’s GDP comes from the service industry and although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. About 82% of food must be imported and the fishing of lobster and tuna is not fully exploited. The development status of Cape Verde has improved since 2007 but it still runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants, which supplements GDP by more than 20%. The international airport that has been built on Santiago, the largest of the islands, will help to boost tourism. Continued economic

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reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy and mitigate high unemployment. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism and the momentum of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development programme. Cape Verde became a member of the WTO in July 2008.

FINANCIAL Budget - revenue: $552.2 million expenditure: $743.8 million (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$264.4 million (2011 est.)

Economic aid: $160.6 million (2005) External debt: $325 million (2002) Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) (linked to the euro) Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar -79.65 (2011 est.) 88.58 (2010),79.38 (2009), 73.84 (2008 est.), 81.235 (2007), 87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003) Fiscal year: calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $2.078 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 5% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $4,000 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 8.4% industry: 15.7% services: 75.9% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 6.5% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 196,100 (2007) Unemployment rate: 21% (2000 est.)

INDUSTRIES Food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (2007 estimate)

AGRICULTURE Products: Bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish ELECTRICITY Production: 256.5 million kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 238.6 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 2,336 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Consumption: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Exports: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 m3 (2010) EXPORTS Value: $108.5 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides Partners: Spain 65.9%, Portugal 18.9% (2011) IMPORTS Value: $868.2 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels Partners: Portugal 37%, Netherlands 25.4%, Spain 7%, Italy 5.2%, China 5.2% (2011) COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 72,000 (2009)

Tl h Telephones - mobile: bil 371 371,900 900 (2009) Telephone system - general assessment: Effective system, extensive modernisation from 1996-2000 following partial privatisation in 1995 Domestic: Major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber-optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998; broadband services launched in 2004 International: Country code - 238; landing point for the Atlantis-2 fibre-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to South America, Senegal, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007) Radio and television broadcast stations: State-run TV and radio broadcast network plus a growing number of private broadcasters (2007) Internet country code: .cv Internet users: 150 000 (2009) TRANSPORTATION Airports: 10 (2012) with paved runways: 9 with unpaved runways: 1 (2010) Railways: 0 Roadways: 1,350 km (2000) Waterways: 0 Ports and terminals: Porto Grande CONTACT DETAILS Embassy of the Republic of Cape Verde Rue Oliveira Martins No 3 Luanda, Angola Tel: +244 2 32 1765/0412/0436 Fax: +244 32 0832 Emails: embaicv.ang@snct.co.ao embaicv.ang@multitel.co.ao Government website: www.governo.cv/

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CÔTE D’IVOIRE As the world’s largest producer of cocoa, Côte d’Ivoire has the potential to be one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states, but recent political turmoil has damaged its economy.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 21,952,093 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.044% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 30.4 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 9.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 57.25 years (2011 est.)

Adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS: 3.4% (2009 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 450,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS deaths: 36,000 (2009 est.)

Population below the poverty line: 42% (2006 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998) Religions: Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est.)

Note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%) Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken Literacy: 56.2%(2010 est.)

BACKGROUND Since independence from France in 1960, Côte d’Ivoire has experienced continual political turmoil. In December 1999 a military coup overthrew the government, and subsequently the country has experienced rigged elections, military coups and rule by juntas. The northern half of the country rebelled against the central government until a peace agreement was reached in January 2003. Key issues such as land reform and eligibilty for citizenship remained unresolved.

In November 2010 Alassane Dramane Ouattara won the presidential election, defeating Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to hand over power, resulting in a 6-month stalemate and widespread violence. Gbagbo was forced from office in April 2011 by Ouattara’s supporters, aided by French and UN forces. Several thousand UN troops and several hundred French remain in Côte d’Ivoire to support the transition process.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia Co-ordinates: 8o 00’N, 5o 00’W Time difference: UTC 0 Area: total: 322,460 km2 land: 318,000 km2 water: 4,460 km2 Land boundaries: 3,110 km Border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea Bissau 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km Coastline: 515 km Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower Land use: arable land: 10.23% permanent crops: 11.16% other: 78.61% (2005) ENVIRONMENT Deforestation (most of the country’s forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

GOVERNMENT Type: Parliamentary republic Capital: Yamoussoukro Seat of government: Abijan Administrative divisions: 19 regions; Agneby, Bafing, Bas-Sassandra, Denguele, Dix-Huit Montagnes, Fromager, HautSassandra, Lacs, Lagunes, Marahoue, Moyen-Cavally, MoyenComoe, N’zi-Comoe, Savanes, Sud-Bandama, Sud-Comoe, Vallee du Bandama, Worodougou, Zanzan Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France) Executive branch: Chief of state: President Alassane Ouattara (since 4 December 2010) Head of government: Prime Minister Jeannot KouadioAhoussou (since 13 March 2012) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 31 October and 28 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly (225 seats; members elected in single- and multi-district elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) Elections: Elections last held on 11 December 2011 (next to be held in 2016) ECONOMY 68% of the population of Côte d’Ivoire are engaged in agriculture and related activities. The country is the world’s largest producer of cocoa beans, as well as large amounts of palm oil and coffee, and these three products are the main sources of revenue.

The country also produces gold. Unfortunately, political turmoil has had an extremely negative effect on the economy, and has resulted in the loss of foreign investment and slow economic growth. GDP grew by more than 2% in 2008 and by about 4% per year in 2009-10. Per capita income registered a slight improvement, but the economy suffered because of power cuts in early 2010. In 2010, Côte d’Ivoire signed agreements to restructure its national debt. The country’s long-term challenges include dealing with political instability and inadequate infrastructure. In 2010 Côte d’Ivoire signed agreements to restructure its Paris Club bilateral, other bilateral, and London Club debt. Côte d’Ivoire long term challenges include political instability and degrading infrastructure. In late 2011, Côte d’Ivoire’s

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economy was recovering from a severe downturn of the first quarter of the year that was caused by widespread post-election fighting.

Consumption: 3.584 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 599 million kWh (2008 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)

FINANCIAL Budget - revenue: $4.372 billion expenditure: $6.261 billion (2011 est.)

OIL Production: 44,880 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 25,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Current account balance: $543.7 million (2011 est.)

Economic aid: ODA, $60 million (2007 est.)

Currency: Communauté Financière Africaine franc (XOF) Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 465.2 (2011 est.), 495.28 (2010 est.), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007). Since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro Fiscal year: Calendar year

Exports: 70,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 85,190 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 100 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

GDP Purchasing power parity: $36.53 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: -4.7% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $1,600 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 21% services: 49% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 8.764 million (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate: No figures available, but unemployment may have climbed to 40-50% as a result of the civil war INDUSTRIES Foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, gold mining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity AGRICULTURE Coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber ELECTRICITY Production: 5.548 billion kWh (2008 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 1.6 billion m3 (2009 est.)

Consumption: 1.6 billion m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 28.32 billion m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

EXPORT Value: $11.24 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish Partners: Netherlands 11.6%, US 11.5%, Germany 7.3%, Nigeria 6%, Canada 6%, France 5.9%, South Africa 5.4% (2011) IMPORT Value: $7.295 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs Partners: Nigeria 35.6%, France 9.9%, China 5.6%, Colombia 5.4% (2011)

t llit earth th stations t ti - 2 IIntelsat t l t (1 Atl ti O satellite Atlantic Ocean andd 1 Indian Ocean) (2009)International country code: 225 Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998) Television broadcast stations: 14 (1998) Internet country code: .cf Internet users: 967,300 (2009) TRANSPORTATION Airports: 27 (2012) Airports - with paved runways: 7 (2007) Airports - with unpaved runways: 20(2007) Railways: 660 km Roads: total: 80,000 km paved: 6,500 km unpaved: 73,500 km Waterways: 0

COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 223,200 (2009) Telephones - mobile: 14.91 million (2009) Telephone system: General assessment: well developed by African standards; telecommunications sector privatized in late 1990s and operational fixed-lines have increased since that time with two fixed-line providers operating over open-wire lines, microwave radio relay, and fibre-optics; 90% digitalized Domestic: With multiple mobile service providers competing in the market, usage has increased sharply to roughly 70 per 100 persons International: Landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fibre-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;

CONTACT DETAILS Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire 795 Government Avenue Arcadia Pretoria 0083 Postal address: PO Box 13510 Hatfield 0028 Tel: +27 12 342 6913/14 Fax: +27 12 342 6713

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THE GAMBIA The Gambia is active in the international arena and provides troops for regional peace keeping efforts. It has considerable tourism potential and a thriving re-export sector. Its mineral resources have not yet been fully exploited.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 1,840,454 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.344% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 33.41 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 7.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 63.82 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 18,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - Deaths: fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: no statistics available SOCIAL Ethnic groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census) Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2% Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars Literacy: 50% (2010)

BACKGROUND It is estimated that as many as 3 million slaves were taken from this region during the transatlantic slave trade. The Gambia gained its independence from Britain in 1965 and formed the short-lived federation with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. The current President, Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned any further political activity.

Jammeh has been elected president in all subsequent elections, including the most recent one in late 2006, when a plan to stage a military coup was allegedly uncovered.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: The smallest country on the continent of Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal. Note: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal Co-ordinates: 13o 28’N, 16o 34’W Time difference: UTC 0 Area: total: 11,300 km2 land: 10,000 km2 water: 1,300 km2 Land boundaries: total: 740 km Border countries: Senegal 740 km Coastline: 80 km Natural resources: Fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon Land use: arable land: 27.88% permanent crops: 0.44% other: 71.68% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 8 km3 (1982) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent GOVERNMENT Type: republic Capital: Banjul Seat of government: Banjul Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city, Banjul Independence: 18 February 1965 (from Britain) Constitution: Approved by national referendum August 1996,

effective January 1997 Legal system: Based on English Common Law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Executive branch: Chief of state and head of government: President Yahya AJJ Jammeh (since October 1996) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016) ECONOMY The Gambia has no confirmed mineral or natural resource deposits and only a limited agricultural base, with about 75% of the population depending on crops and livestock.

Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia’s natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In the past few years, The Gambia’s re-export trade, traditionally a major segment of economic activity. has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly.

Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high; economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management and continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. The government has promised to raise civil service wages over the next two years and the deficit is projected to worsen. In 2011 tourism contributed about one-fifth of GDP but suffered from the European economic downturn. The Gambia’s reexport trade accounted for almost 80% of goods exports.

International donors and lenders continue to be concerned about the quality of fiscal management and The Gambia’s debt burden.

FINANCIAL Budget - revenue: $176.5 million expenditure: $220.6 million (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$143.6 million (2011 est.)

Economic aid: $58.15 million (2005) External debt: $640.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)

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Currency: Dalasi (GMD) Exchange rates: Dalasi per US dollar - 30.29 (2011 est.), 28.5193 (2010), 26.6444 (2009), 22.75 (2008 est.), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006), 28.575 (2005), 30.03 (2004), 27.306 (2003) Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $3.541 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 3.3% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $2,000 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 26.7% industry: 17.4% services: 55.9% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 6% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 777,100 (2007) Labour force by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry: 19% services: 6% (1996) INDUSTRIES Processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing AGRICULTURE Products: Rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (manioc), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats ELECTRICITY Production: 220 million kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 204.6 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 41.62 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 2,807 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Consumption: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

EXPORT Value: $120.4 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels Partners: China 41.8%, India 20.8%, France 10.4%, UK 6.3% (2011) IMPORT Value: $394.4 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment Partners: China 29.2%, Brazil 10.1%, Senegal 8.7%, India 5.5%, Netherlands 4.1%, Turkey 4% (2011) COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 48,800 (2009) Telephones - mobile: 1.478 million (2009) Telephone system - general assessment: Adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; in 2007 the state-owned Gambia Telecommunications was partially privatised, with 50% of its equity sold to a Lebanese firm Domestic: Combined fixed-line and mobile teledensity, aided by multiple mobile providers, approached 85 per 100 persons in 2009 international: microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite-earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997) International country code: 220 Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio station and 4 privately-owned radio stations Television broadcast stations: 1 government-owned (2010) Internet country code: .gm Internet users: 130,100 (2009) TRANSPORTATION Airports: 1 (2012) Roads: 3,742 km (2004) Waterways: 390 km (on River Gambia) (2010) Ports and terminals: Banjul

CONTACT DETAILS The Gambia Consulate (AVP Office) 2nd Floor, East Wing Standard Bank Building 11 Alice Lane Sandton, 2196 Postal address: Private Bag X9949 Sandton, 2146 Tel: +27 11 884 3710 Fax: +27 11 883 5925 Mobile: +27 83 222 6747 Email: slette@worldonline.co.za

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GHANA Ghana ranks highly in terms of natural resources and per capita output, and aims to reach middle-income status by 2015. The government is also determined to manage its new oil revenues according to best practice.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 25,241,998 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.787% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 26.99 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 8.57 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 61.45 years HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.8% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 260,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 18,000 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: 28.5% (2007 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4% and other 7.8% (2000) Religions: Christian 68.8%, Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000) Languages: English (official), Asante, Ewe, Fante, Boron (Brong), Dagomba, Dangme, Dagarte, Akyem, Ga, Akuapem and others (2000) Literacy: 67.3% Note: 15 years ago, nearly two-thirds of primary school graduates were functionally illiterate. In 2004, the figure was one in five.

BACKGROUND Present-day Ghana was formed from the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland Trust Territory. In 1957 it became the first sub-Saharan country to obtain its independence. The first president, Kwame Nkrumah, the father of Pan-Africanism, was overthrown by a military coup in 1966. Lt. Jerry Rawlings took power in 1981 and banned political activities. After introducing a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, Rawlings won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John Kufuor succeeded him and was re-elected in 2004. John Atta Mills was elected as head of state in early 2009. He died on 24 July 1012 and was succeeded by Vice President John Dramani Mahama.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: Ghana borders Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south.

Co-ordinates: 8o 00’N, 2o 00’W Time difference: UTC 0 Area: total: 239,460 km2 land: 230,940 km2 water: 8,520 km2 Land boundaries: 2,094 km Border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d’Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km Coastline: 539 km Natural resources: Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone Land use: arable land: 17.54% permanent crops: 9.22% other: 73.24% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 53.2 km3 (2001) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

GOVERNMENT Type: Republic Capital: Accra Seat of government: Accra Administrative divisions: 10 regions, subdivided into a total of 138 districts.

Independence: 6 March 1957 (from Britain) Constitution: Approved 28 April 1992 Legal system: Based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Executive branch: Chief of state: President John Dramani Mahama (since July 2012, when, as vice president, he took over on the death of President John Atta Mills); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government Cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament Elections: President and vice-president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 December 2004, next to be held in December 2012 Legislative branch: Unicameral Parliament (230 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) Elections: Last held 7 December 2008, next to be held December 2012 Judicial branch: Supreme Court ECONOMY At the time of its independence, Ghana was widely regarded as a model state – well-run and economically successful. The country is well endowed with natural resources, and agriculture accounts for roughly one-third of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, most of whom are small landholders. The services sector accounts for 40% of GDP. Gold and cocoa production and individual remittances from citizens working abroad are major sources of foreign exchange. Oil production at Ghana’s offshore Jubilee field began in mid-December 2011 and is expected to boost economic growth. Ghana signed a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) programme in 2002,

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and is also benefiting from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative that took effect in 2006. In 2009 Ghana signed a three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF to improve macroeconomic stability, boost private sector competitiveness, encourage human resource development, and promote good governance and civic responsibility.

Sound macro-economic management along with high prices for gold and cocoa helped sustain GDP growth in 2008-10. In early 2010 President Mills targeted recovery from high inflation and current account and budget deficits as his priorities, and Ghana is making considerable headway in these areas.

FINANCIAL Budget - revenues: $8.796 billion expenditure: $10.38 billion (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$1.438 billion (2011 est.)

Economic aid – recipient: $1.316 billion in loans and grants External debt: $7.779 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Currency: Cedi (GHC) Exchange rates: Cedis per US dollar - 1.495 (2011 est.), 1.429 (2010), 1.409 (2009), 1.1 (2008), 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004), 8,677.4 (2003) Note: In 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis equal to 1 new cedis. The currency was changed from Cedi (¢) to the new currency, the Ghana Cedi (GH¢).

Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $75.9 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 13.6% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $3,100 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 28.3% industry: 21% services: 50.7% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 8.8% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 11.44 million (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate: 11% (2000 est.)

INDUSTRIES Mining, lumber, light manufacturing, aluminium smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship-building Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2010 est.)

AGRICULTURE Products: Cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber ELECTRICITY Production: 8.167 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 6.06 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: $13.13 billion (2011 est.)

Imports: $14.03 billion (2011 est.)

OIL Production: 8,880 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 60,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 5,752 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 68,830 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 660 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Consumption: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Exports: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 22.65 billion m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

EXPORTS Value: $13.13 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminium, manganese ore, diamonds, horticultural products Partners: France 19.5%, Netherlands 10.4%, US 8.8%, Italy 8.3%, UK 4.8% (2011) IMPORTS Value: $14.03 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs Partners: China 20.5%, Nigeria 12.4%, US 7.8%, India 5.1%, Netherlands 5.1%, UK 4.2% (2011)

COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 277,900 (2009) Telephones - mobile: 17.436 million (2009) Telephone system - general assessment: Primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed; outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra domestic: Competition among multiple mobile providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 70 per 100 persons and rising international: Country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/ WASC, Main One, and GLO-1 fibre-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South Africa, Europe, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbours (2009) International country code: 233 Radio broadcast stations: 2 state-owned and a large number of privately-owned stations Television broadcast stations: 1 state-owned and several private TV stations Internet country code: .gh Internet users: 1.297 million (2009) TRANSPORT Airports: 10 (2012) Airports - with paved runways: 7 Airports - with unpaved runways: 4 Railways: 947 km (2008) Roads: 62,221 km (2006) Waterways: 1,293 km (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta) (2011) Ports and terminals: Takoradi, Tema CONTACT DETAILS High Commission of the Republic of Ghana 1038 Arcadia Street Hatfield, Pretoria 0083 Postal address: PO Box 12537, Hatfield, 0028 Tel: +27 12 342 5847-9 Fax: +27 12 342 5863 Website: http://www.ghana.gov.gh/

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GUINEA Guinea possesses half the world’s reserves of bauxite, as well as substantial amounts of highgrade iron ore, diamonds, gold and uranium. It also has considerable potential in agriculture and fishing.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 10,884,958 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.641% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 36.6 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 10.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 58.11 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.3% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 79,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - Deaths: 4,700 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: 47% (2006 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10% Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7% Languages: French (official) note: each ethnic group has its own language Literacy: 41%(2010 est.)

BACKGROUND Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. After the death of the first president, Sekou Toure, Lansana Conte came to power in 1984 by means of a military coup. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993, when General Conte was elected president of the civilian government.

He was re-elected in 1998 and again in 2003, though the election processes were questionable. Guinea has maintained its internal stability despite the effects of conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As those countries have rebuilt, Guinea’s own vulnerability to political and economic crises has increased. Declining economic conditions and dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance gave rise to two massive strikes in 2006. A third strike in 2007 sparked violent protests and prompted two weeks of martial law. To end the unrest, Conte appointed a new prime minister in March 2007. A transitional government led by General Sekouba Konate held democratic elections in 2010 and Alpha Conte was elected president in the first free elections since independence.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone Co-ordinates: 1o 00’N, 10o 00’W Capital: Conakry Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Area: total: 245,857 km2 land: 245,857 km2 water: 0 km2 Land boundaries: 3,399 km Border countries: Cote d’Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km Coastline: 320 km2 Natural resources: Bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt Land use: arable land: 4.47% permanent crops: 2.64% other: 92.89% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 226 km3 (1987) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable

water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage GOVERNMENT Type: Republic Capital: Conakry Seat of government: Conakry Administrative divisions: 33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France) Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi fondamentale) Legal system: Based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Executive branch: Chief of state: President Lansana Conte, head of military government since 5 April 1984, most recently re-elected in 2010 Head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Said Fofana, since December 2010 Cabinet: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held June 2010 with a run-off election November 2010 Legislative branch: The legislature was dissolved by junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara in December 2008 and in February 2010, the Transition Government appointed a 155 member National Transition Council (CNT) that has since acted in the legislature’s place Elections last held 30 June 2002, next to be held in 2008.

Elections: Last held on 30 June 2002 (next election scheduled for 8 July 2012) Judiciary: Court of First Instance; Court of Appeal; Supreme Court ECONOMY Guinea is poor and undeveloped, but it possesses important mineral, hydropower and agricultural resources – for example, it is the world’s second-largest bauxite producer. Consistent development would require long-term improvements in fiscal arrangements, the literacy rate and the legal system. At present, investor confidence has been undermined by corruption, the lack of energy and infrastructure,

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the lack of skills and political uncertainty. The IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003, but Guinea is again attempting to re-engage with these bodies and is working closely with technical advisors in order qualify for a fully-funded programme once again. In 2006-07 growth rose slightly as a result of the increase in commodity prices on world markets, but the standard of living fell as the Guinea franc depreciated sharply while the cost of food and fuel rose. Throughout 2009, the policies of the ruling military junta severely weakened the economy and drove inflation and debt to dangerously high levels. In early 2010, the junta collapsed and was replaced by a Transition Government, which ceded power in December 2010 to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first-ever democratically elected president.

International assistance and investment are expected to return to Guinea, but the levels will depend upon the ability of the new government to combat corruption and reform its banking system. Since the 2009 global economic downturn, the price and value of bauxite and aluminium exports has risen. International investors have expressed keen interest in Guineaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vast iron ore reserves. The government put forward a new mining code in September 2011 that includes provisions to combat corruption, protect the environment and review all existing mining contracts FINANCIAL Budget: revenue: $960.3 million expenditure: $1.203 billion (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$271.6 million (2011 est.)

Economic aid: $182.1 million (2005) External debt: $3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Currency: Guinean franc (GNF) Exchange rates: Guinean francs per US dollar - 6,600 (2011 est.) ,6,100 (2010), 5,500 (2009, 5,500 (2008), 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003) Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $11.61 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 3.6% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $1,100 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 16.9% industry: 53.6% services: 29.5% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 16% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 4.638 million (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate: No statistics available INDUSTRY Industries: Bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2010 est.)

AGRICULTURE Products: Rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (manioc), bananas, yams; cattle, sheep, goats; timber ELECTRICITY Production: 920 million kWh Consumption: 855.6 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009) Imports: 0 kWh (2009) OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 8,559 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2008 est.)

Consumption: 0 m3 (2008 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 m3 (2010 est.)

EXPORTS Value: $1.777 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products Partners: Chile 24.4%, Spain 9.1%, India 7.9%, Russia 7.4%, Germany 5.1%, Ireland 5%, US 4.9%, Ukraine 4.4% (2011) IMPORTS Value: $1.774 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport

equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs Partners: China 13.4%, Netherlands 8.2%, US 5.4%, France 4% (2011) COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 18,000 (2009) Telephones - mobile: 4 million (2009) Telephone system: General assessment: inadequate system of open-wire lines, small radio-telephone communication stations and new microwave radio relay system Domestic: Conakry reasonably well served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for nationwide links; combined fixed and mobile teledensity is about 2 per 100 persons International: Satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) International country code: -224 Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-run and several private and community stations (2010) Television broadcast stations:1 state-run and several private (2010) Internet country code: .gn Internet users: 95,000 (2009) TRANSPORTATION Airports: 16 (2012) Airports with paved runways: 4 Airports with unpaved runways: 12 Railways: 1,185 km (2008) Roads: 44,348 km (2003) Waterways: 1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005) Ports and terminals: Conakry, Kamsar CONTACT DETAILS Embassy of the Republic of Guinea 336 Orient Street Arcadia, Pretoria 0083 Postal address: PO Box 13523, Hatfield, 0028 Tel: +27 12 342 7348 Tel: +27 12 342 4906 Fax: +27 12 342 7348 Email: embaguinea@iafrica.com

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GUINEA-BISSAU One of the poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. With international support, it is taking its first steps towards stability and economic development.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 1,628,603 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.971% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 34.72 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 15.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 49.11 years (2011 est.)

Adult prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS: 2.5% (2009 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 22,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS deaths: 1,200 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: no statistics available SOCIAL Ethnic groups: African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1% Religions: Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10% Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages Literacy: 54.2% (2010)

BACKGROUND Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced political upheavals. In 1980 the dictator Joao Bernardo ‘Nino’ Viera came to power. Despite laying the foundations for a market economy and a multi-party system, Viera suppressed all political opposition. He was ousted in 1999 and Kumba Yala was elected President in a democratic process. In September 2003 Yala was overthrown and an interim government took over. In 2005 former President Viera was re-elected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation. In March 2009 Vieira was assassinated. They country’s military leaders have pledged to respect the constitutional order of succession. National Assembly Speaker Raimundo Pereira was appointed interim president until a nationwide election in 2009, which was won by Malam Bacai Sanha. The latter was elected in an emergency election held in June 2009, but he died suddenly in January 2012. A military coup on 12 April 2012 prevented Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election from taking place.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal Co-ordinates: 12o 00’N, 15o 00’W Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time) Area: total: 36,120 km2 land: 28,000 km2 water: 8,120 km2 Land boundaries: 724 km Border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km Coastline: 350 km Natural resources: Fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum Land use: arable land: 8.31% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 84.77% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 31 km3 (2003) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing

GOVERNMENT Type: Republic Capital: Bissau Seat of government: Bissau Administrative divisions: 9 regions: Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali Independence:10 September 1974 (from Portugal) Constitution: 16 May 1984 Executive branch: Chief of state: [Transitional] President Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo (since 11 May 2012) Note: in the aftermath of the April 2012 coup that deposed the government, an agreement was reached between Ecowas mediators and the military junta to name Nhamadjo as transitional president with a one year term Head of government: [Transitional] Prime Minister Rui Duarte Barros (since 16 May 2012) Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last in June 2009 with a runoff between two candidates held in July 2009 (next to be held by 2014); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature Legislative branch: Unicameral National People’s Assembly of 100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Election: Last held November 2008 (next to be held in 2012) Legal system: Based on French civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction ECONOMY One of the five poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have become the most important cash crop. The country exports fish as well as grounnuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. In 1998, fighting between government troops and the military junta destroyed much of the infrastructure and severely damaged the economy, causing a 28% drop in GDP. Recently, trade reform and price liberalisation, the tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector has started to revitalise the economy. However, capital is lacking to develop the country’s mineral resources, and the inequality of income distribution remains one of the most extreme in the world.

In 2003 the World Bank, IMF and UNDP were forced to

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provide emergency budgetary support. The government and international donors continue their attempts to promote economic development off a very low base.

The combination of limited economic prospects, weak law-enforcement and favourable geography have made Guinea-Bissau a way-station for illegal drugs smuggled into Europe. The government is successfully implementing a three-year $33 million extended credit arrangement with the IMF that runs through 2012. In December 2010 the World Bank and IMF announced support for $1.2 billion worth of debt relief. GuineaBissau made progress with debt relief in 2011 when members of the Paris Club opted to write-off much of the country’s obligations.

FINANCIAL Budget: revenues: $183.5 million expenditure: $202.8 million (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$100 million (2011 est.)

Economic aid: $79.12 million (2005) Debt – external: $1.095 billion (31 December 2010) Currency: Communauté Financière Africaine franc (XOF) Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine franc (XOF) perr US dollar - 473.7 (2011 est.), 495.28 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006) Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $1.95 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 5.3% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $1,200 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 55.8% industry: 13% services: 31.2% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 5.2% (2011 est.)

AGRICULTU AGRICULTURE AGRICU LTURE RE Products: Rice, corn, beans, cassava (manioc), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish

Telephones - mobile: 594 594,100 100 (2009) Telephone system - general assessment: Small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile communications

ELECTRICITY Production: 70 million kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 65.1 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Domestic: fixed-line tele-density less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile tele-density reached 35 per 100 in 2009 International: Country code - 245 (2008) Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations and some community radio stations (2007) Television broadcast stations: 1 state-owned station, a second station operated by Portuguese public broadcaster Internet country code: .gw Internet users: 37,100 (2009)

OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 2,565 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2009) Consumption: 0 m3 (2009) Proved reserves: 0 m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

EXPORTS Value: $142.3 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Fish, shrimp; cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber Partners: India 41.5%, Nigeria 33.9%, Brazil 8.7%, Togo 7.9% (2011)

LABOUR Labour force: 632,700 (2007) Unemployment rate: No statistics available

IMPORTS Value: $239.5 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products Partners: Portugal 28.3%, Senegal 15.6%, China 4.7% (2011)

INDUSTRY Agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 5,000 (2009)

TRANSPORTATION Airports: 8 (2012) with paved runways: 2 with unpaved runways: 6 Roads: 3,455 km Waterways: Rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior (2007) Ports and terminals: Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim CONTACT DETAILS Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau I/F Lakeside Two Bruma Lake Ernest Oppenheimer Drive Bruma Johannesburg 2198 Postal address: PO Box 9689 Edenglen, 1613 Tel: +27 11 622 3688 Fax: +27 11 622 5351 Website: http://www.guineabissau-government.com/

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LIBERIA Once a settlement of freed slaves, Liberia is richly endowed with water, mineral resources and forests, and its climate is highly favourable for agriculture.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 3,887,886 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.609% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 36.45 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 10.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 57.41 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 1.5% (2009 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 37,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS deaths: 3,600 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: 80% (2000 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census) Religions: Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 census) Languages: English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages Literacy: 57.5% (2003 estimate)

BACKGROUND Settlement of freed slaves from the US began in 1822; and by 1847 Liberia was constituted as a republic. William Tubman, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendents of the settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel Doe ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In 1989, Charles Taylor launched a rebellion that led to a prolonged civil war. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought Taylor to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. Taylor resigned in 2003 and faces war-crimes charges in The Hague relating to his involvement in Sierra Leone’s civil war. Democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to power. The UN Mission maintains a strong presence throughout the country, but the security situation is still fragile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country will take many years.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone Co-ordinates: 6o 30’N, 9o 30’W Time difference: UTC 0 Area: total: 111,370 km2 land: 96,320 km2 water: 15,050 km2 Land boundaries: 3,193 km Border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d’Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km Coastline: 579 km Natural resources: Iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower Land use: arable land: 3.43% permanent crops: 1.98% other: 94.59% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 232 km3 (1987) ENVIRONMENT Tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

GOVERNMENT Type: Republic Capital: Monrovia Seat of government: Monrovia Administrative divisions: 15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe; 45 provinces Independence: 26 July 1847 Legal system: Supreme Court Executive branch: Chief of state: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, since 16 January 2006 Head of government: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (the president is both the chief of state and head of government) Cabinet: Appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate President elected by popular vote for a six-year term, eligible for a second term; president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 11 October and 8 November 2011 (next to be held in 2017).

Legislative branch: Bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats) and the House of Representatives (64 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms). Senate - last held on 11 October 2011 (next to be held in 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 11 October 2011 (next to be held 1n 2017) ECONOMY Civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia’s economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. With the conclusion of fighting and the installation of a democratically-elected government in 2006, businesses are once again starting up. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a Harvard-trained banker and administrator, has taken steps to reduce corruption, build support from international donors, and encourage private investment. Embargos on timber and diamond exports have been lifted, opening new sources of revenue for the government. Embargos on timber and diamond exports have been lifted, opening new sources of revenue for the government and Liberia shipped its first major timber exports to Europe in 2010. The country reached its Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative completion point in 2010 and nearly $5 billion of international debt was permanently

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eliminated. The reconstruction of infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy will largely depend on generous financial and technical assistance from donor countries and foreign investment in key sectors, such as infrastructure and power generation.

FINANCIAL Budget: revenue: $430.3 million expenditure: $441.4 million (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$511.2 million (2011 est.)

Economic aid: $659.6 million (2005) External debt: $1.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Currency: Liberian dollar Exchange rates: Liberian dollars per US dollar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 74.2 (2011 est.), 71.78 (2010 est.), 59.43 (2006), 53.098 (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003) Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $1.792 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 6.4% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $500 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 76.9% industry: 5.4% services: 17.7% (2002 est.)

Inflation rate: 10% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 1.372 million (2007) Unemployment rate: 85% (2003 est.)

INDUSTRIES Rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds AGRICULTURE Products: Rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava, palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber ELECTRICITY Production: 335 million kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 311.6 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 4,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 23.37 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 4,552 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Consumption: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

EXPORTS Value: $362.3 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee Partners: South Africa 29.9%, US 15.7%, Spain 7.6%, Cote dIvoire 4.9%, Germany 4.2%, Japan 4.1%, China 4% (2011) IMPORTS Value: $763 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs Partners: South Korea 42.4%, China 28.6%, Japan 18.9% (2011) COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 5,900 (2009) Telephones - mobile: 1.571 million (2009) Telephones: General assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia; fixed-line service stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile network operators Domestic: Mobile subscription base growing and teledensity reached 40 per 100 persons in 2010 International: Country code -231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio station about 15 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with another 25 local stations operating in other areas Television broadcast stations: 3 private TV stations; satellite TV service is available; Internet country code: .lr

IInternet t t users: 20 20,000 000 (2009) TRANSPORT Airports: 29 (2012) Airports with paved runways: 2 Airports with unpaved runways: 27 Railways: 429 km Roads: 10 600 km Ports and terminals: Buchanan, Monrovia CONTACT DETAILS Embassy of the Republic of Liberia Suite 9 Section 7 Schoeman Street Forum 1157 Schoeman Street Hatfield Postal address: P O Box 14082 Hatfield Pretoria Tel: +27 12 342 2734/35 Fax: +27 12 342 2737 Cell: +27 72 928 0841 E-mail: libempta@pta.lia.net

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MALI Mali, a land of deserts, ancient cultures and extreme poverty, has proved to be one of the strongest democracies on the continent. Under the guidance of the IMF, Mali is starting to restructure its economy, diversifying and attracting foreign investment.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 14,533,511 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.613% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 45.15 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 13.94 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 53.06 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 1% (2009 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 76,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS deaths: 4,400 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: 36.1% (2010 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5% Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9% Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages Literacy rate: 31.1% (2005 est.)

BACKGROUND The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. Senegal withdrew from this union after only a few months, and the former Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a military coup led by the current president, Amadou Toure. President Alpha Konare won Mali’s first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was re-elected in 1997. In 2002, Konare was succeeded by Toure, who was elected to a second term in 2007. The elections were widely judged to be free and fair.

A military coup overthrew the government in March 2012, claiming that the government had not adequately supported the Malian army’s fight against an advancing Tuareg-led rebellion in the north.

Heavy international pressure forced coup leaders to accelerate the transition back to democratic rule and, to that end, Dioncounda Traore was installed as interim president on 12 April 2012.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: West Africa, south-west of Algeria Co-ordinates: 17o 00’N, 4o 00’W Time difference: UTC 0 Area: total: 1.24 million km2 land: 1.22 million km2 water: 20,000 km2 Land boundaries: 3,193 km Border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d’Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km Natural resources: Gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower Note: Bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited Land use:

arable land: 3.76% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 96.21% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 100 km3 (2001) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching GOVERNMENT Type: Republic

Capital: Bamako Seat of government: Bamako Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France) Constitution: Adopted 12 January 1992 Legal system: Based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Executive branch: Chief of state: [Interim] President Dioncounda Traore (since 12 April 2012) note: in the aftermath of the March 2012 coup, deposed President Tour, in a brokered deal, resigned to facilitate the naming of an interim president and transition back toward democratic rule Head of government: [Interim] Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra (since 17 April 2012) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2012); prime minister appointed by the president Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly: 147 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms Elections: Last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 - next to be held in July 2012 Judicial branch: Supreme Court ECONOMY Mali is among the poorest countries in the world. 65% of its land area is desert or semi-desert, and there is a highly unequal distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the area irrigated by the Niger River. About 10% of the population is nomadic and about 80% of the labour force is engaged in farming and fishing. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and is vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along with gold. The government has continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify and attract foreign investment. Mali’s adherence to economic reform and the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a 5% average in 1996-2008. Worker remittances and external trade routes for the landlocked country have been jeopardized by continued unrest in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire. The government in 2011 completed

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an IMF extended credit facility facility. Mali is developing its cotton and iron-ore extraction industries to diversify foreign exchange revenue away from gold. Mali has invested in tourism but security issues are hurting the industry. The country experienced economic growth of about 5% per year between 1996-2010.

FINANCIAL Budget - revenue: $2.16 billion expenditure: $2.618 billion (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$798.6 million (2011 est.)

Economic aid: $691.5 million (2005) External debt: $3.542 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Currency: CommunautÊ Financière Africaine franc (XOF) Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 473.7 (2011 est.), 495.28 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007) Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $18.1 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 2.7% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $1,100 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 38.8% industry: 21.9% services: 39.3% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 3.6% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 3.241 million (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% (2004 est.)

sheep sheep, goats ELECTRICITY Production: 490 million kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 455.7 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh note: Mali may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Mobile users: 77.326 326 million (2009) Telephone system - general assessment: Domestic system unreliable but improving; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas

Consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 4,507 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Domestic: Fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile subscribership has increased sharply and now exceeds 50 per 100 persons International: Country code: 223; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 230 (27 regional and government stations, and 203 private stations), shortwave 1 (2001) Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus repeaters) (2007) Internet country code: .ml Internet users: 249,800 (2009)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Consumption: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

TRANSPORTATION Airports: 21 (2012) Airports - with paved runways: 8 Airports - with unpaved runways: 13(2007)

OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

EXPORTS Value: $2.7 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Cotton, gold, livestock Partners: China 32.5%, South Korea 15.2%, Indonesia 12.8%, Thailand 6.6%, Bangladesh 5.3% (2011)

INDUSTRIES Food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

IMPORTS Value: $2.942 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles Partners: Senegal 15%, France 11.7%, China 8.2%, Cote dIvoire 6.3% (2011)

AGRICULTURE Cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle,

COMMUNICATION Telephones - 114,400 (2009)

Railways: 593 km Roads: 18,912 km Waterways: 1,800 km (2007) Ports and terminals: Koulikoro CONTACT DETAILS Embassy of the Republic of Mali 876 Pretorius Street Block B Arcadia Pretoria 0083 Postal address: P O Box 12978 Hatfield, 0028 Tel: +27 12 342 7464/0676 Fax: +27 12 342 0670

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NIGERIA Nigeria is densely populated and possesses vast mineral wealth. Its oil-driven economy continues to grow at a furious rate, in spite of serious problems such as rampant corruption and mismanagement, sectarian violence and large-scale environmental destruction.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 170,123,740 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.553% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 39.23 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 13.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 52.05 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 3.6% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3.3 million (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 220,000 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: 70% (2007 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the largest: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%% Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10% Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 other indigenous languages Literacy rate: 61.3% (2010 est.)

BACKGROUND Tribalism and sectarianism have played an important role in Nigerian politics, both before and after independence in 1960, and have led to secessionist movements, civil war and military rule. Nigeria’s three largest ethnic groups, the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, have maintained their power and influence, and competition between these three groups has entrenched graft and corruption. Nigeria also experiences ongoing rivalry between Christian and Islamic factions, especially in the northern areas. However, civilian, democratic rule has been applied consistently over the last five years, and in January 2010 Nigeria assumed a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: West Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon Co-ordinates: 10o 00’N, 8o 00’E Capital: Abuja Time difference: UTC+1 hr Area: total: 923,768 km2 land: 910,768 km2 water: 13,000 km2 Land boundaries: 4,047 km Border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km Coastline: 853 km Natural resources: Natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land Land use: arable land: 33.02% permanent crops: 3.14% other: 63.84% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 286.2 km3 (2003) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization GOVERNMENT Type: Federal republic Seat of government: Abuja

Administrative divisions: 36 states and one territory, Federal Capital Territory. States include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, *, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara Independence: 1 October 1960 (from the UK) Constitution: New constitution adopted 5 May 1999; effective 29 May 1999 Legal system: Based on English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Executive branch: Chief of state: President Goodluck Jonathan, since April 2011. The president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Executive body: The Federal Executive Council Elections: The president is elected by popular vote for a fouryear term, after which he is eligible for a second term. Elections last held 2 April 2011, next due in April 2015.

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Federal Court of Appeal ECONOMY Oil production accounts for 40% of the GDP. Nigeria is the twelfth-largest producer of petroleum in the world and the eighthlargest exporter. It was a founding member of OPEC. Because of deteriorating infrastructure, corruption and ongoing civil strife, oil production and export is not at maximum capacity. Nigeria also has considerable deposits of coal and tin, as well as iron ore, limestone, niobium, lead and zinc, but the mining industry remains under-developed and about 60% of Nigerians are employed in the agricultural sector. Nigeria has negotiated debt-restructuring deals with international financial bodies, and these stipulate necessary economic reforms. Since 2008 the government has shown its willingness to implement reforms, to modernise the banking system, curb inflation and resolve disputes over the distribution of oil revenue. As a result of increased oil exports and high prices globally, GDP rose strongly in 2007 and 2008. The government is currently developing stronger public-private partnerships for electricity, roads and other development projects.

FINANCIAL Budget - revenue: $23.05 billion expenditure: $31.09 billion (2011 est.)

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Current account balance: $12 $12.01 01 billion (2011 est est.))

External debt: $12.06 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est est.))

Currency: naira (NGN) Exchange rates: nairas per US dollar - 152.7 (2011 est.), 150.88 (2010); 148.9 (2009); 117.8 (2008); 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004), 129.22 (2003)

OIL Production: 2.458 million bbl/day (2010 est.)

Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $418.7 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 7.2% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $2,600 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 35.4% industry: 33.6% services: 31% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 10.8% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 52.16 million (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate: 21% (2011 est.)

INDUSTRIES Crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel AGRICULTURE Cocoa, peanuts, cotton, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish ELECTRICITY Production: 20.13 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 18.14 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Consumption: 279,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 2.102 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 187,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 37.2 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

resulted in faster growth but subscribership remains only about 1 per 100 persons; mobile services growing rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple cellular providers operate nationally with subscribership approaching 60 per 100 persons in 2010 International: Landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fibre-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2009)

NATURAL GAS Production: 23.21 billion m3 (2009 est.)

Consumption: 7.216 billion m3 (2009 est.)

Exports: 15.99 billion m3 (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 5.292 trillion m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

International country code: 234 Radio stations: About 40 state-owned stations Television stations: About 70 state-controlled national and regional stations Internet country code: .ng Internet users: 43.989 million (2009)

EXPORT Value: $101.1 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber Partners: US 28.9%, India 12%, Brazil 7.8%, Spain 7.1%, France 4.9%, Netherlands 4.2% (2011)

TRANSPORT Airports: 53 (2012) Airports - with paved runways: 40 Airports - with unpaved runways: 13 Railways: 3,505 km Roadways: 193,200 km Waterways: 8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2011) Ports and terminals: Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos

IMPORT Value: $67.36 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and livestock Partners: China 17.5%, US 9.1%, Netherlands 4.9%, India 4.7%, South Korea 4.7% (2011) COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 1.05 million (2009) Mobile: 87.298 million (2009) Telephone system â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Further expansion and modernization of the fixed-line telephone network is needed; network quality remains a problem Domestic: The addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002

CONTACT DETAILS High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 971 Schoeman Street Arcadia, Pretoria 0083 Postal address: P O Box 27332 Sunnyside, 0132 Tel: +27 12 342 0805 Tel: +27 12 342 0663 Fax: +27 12 342 1668 E-mail: nhep@iafrica.com

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SÀO TOMÉ E PRÍNCIPE A Portuguese possession since the fifteenth century, São Tomé and Príncipe became independent in 1975. Development has been slow in this small island nation. Its unspoilt natural beauty offers tourism potential, and the recent discovery of oil is attracting attention.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 183,176 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.996% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 37.02 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 7.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 63.49 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: no statistics available HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: no statistics available Population below poverty line: 54% (2004 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese) Religions: Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census) Languages: Portuguese (official) Literacy: 84.9% (2001 census)

BACKGROUND In the early 19th century, coffee and cocoa were introduced to São Tomé, which was then a Portuguese colony. These crops were well suited to the rich volcanic soil. By 1908, São Tomé had become the world’s largest producer of cocoa, which remains the country’s most important crop. Sugar was another lucrative crop.In the late 1950s, a small group of São Toméans formed the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP), which eventually established its base in nearby Gabon. In 1974, an agreement was reached for the transfer of sovereignty. After a period of transitional government, São Tomé and Príncipe achieved independence in 1975, with Manuel Pinto Da Costa as its first president. The Government of São Tomé functions under a fully democratic, multi-party system. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: West Africa, west of Gabon - two main islands and some smaller islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the equator, Co-ordinates: 1o 00’N, 7o 00’E Capital: São Tomé Time difference: UTC 0 Area: total: 1,001 km2 land: 1,001 km2 water: 0 km2 Coastline: 209 km Natural resources: Fish, hydropower Land use: arable land: 8.33% permanent crops: 48.96% other: 42.71% (2005) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion GOVERNMENT Type: Republic Seat of government: São Tomé

Administrative divisions: 2 provinces: São Tomé and Príncipe Note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995 Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal) Constitution: Approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990 Legal system: Based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Executive branch: Chief of state: President Manuel Pinto Da Costa (since 3 September 2011) Head of government: Prime Minister Patrice Emery Trovoada (since 14 August 2010) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the Prime Minister Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly of 55 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 July and 7 August 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president ECONOMY Since independence in 1975 São Tomé has become increasingly dependent on cocoa. However, cocoa production has declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. São Tomé has to import all fuels, manufactured goods and most of its food. The country has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied on aid and debt rescheduling. In 2000 the country’s $300 million debt burden was reduced by $200 million under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program.

In 2005 São Tomé joined an IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program worth $4.3 million. With its clean beaches and unspoilt natural beauty, the country has tourism potential, and the government is encouraging this by improving facilities and relaxing price control. Rich oil deposits have been discovered in the Gulf of Guinea and São Tomé is developing them in partnership with Nigeria.

FINANCIAL Budget: $74.77 million Expenditure: $117.9 million (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$90 million (2011 est.)

External debt: $185.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Currency: Dobra (STD), linked to the euro

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Exchange rates: Dobras per US dollar - 17,692.7 (2011 est.), 19,641 (2010), 16,209 (2009, 14,900 (2008)14,050.00 (2007), 13,700 (2007), 12,050 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), 9,902.3 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003) Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $383.9 million (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 4.9% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $2,300 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 24.4% services: 60.6% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 12% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 52,490 (2007) Unemployment rate: No statistics available INDUSTRIES Light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber AGRICULTURE Cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish ELECTRICITY Production: 41 million kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 38.13 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009) Imports: 0 kWh (2009) OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 889 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

EXPORTS Value: $16.6 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Partners: Netherlands 24%, Belgium 22.5%, Egypt 19.1%, US 7.1% (2011) IMPORTS Value: $119.5 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products Partners: Portugal 55.3%, Malaysia 14.3%, US 5.2%, Gabon 4% (2011) COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 7,700 (2009) Telephones - mobile: 64,000 (2009) Telephone system: General assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches Domestic: Combined fixed-line and mobile teledensity roughly 35 telephones per 100 persons

International: Satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) International country code: 239 Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio station; 3 independent local radio stations (2008) Television broadcast stations: 1 (2008) Internet country code: .st Internet users: 26,700 (2009) TRANSPORTATION Airports: 2 (2012) Airports - with paved runways: 2 Railways: n/a Roads: 320 km Waterways: n/a Ports and terminals: SĂŁo TomĂŠ CONTACT DETAILS No representation in South Africa

Inside Africa Directory

SENEGAL Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa, with a long history of participation in international peacekeeping. It has earned international respect for its prudent economic reforms, and is currently drawing on foreign expertise to exploit its rich natural resources.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 12,969,606 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.532% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 36.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 9.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 60.18 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - 0.9% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - 59,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS deaths: 2,600 (2009 est.)

Population below the poverty line: 42% (2006 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4% Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1% Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka Literacy: 39.3% (2008)

BACKGROUND In 1959 the French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged into a single territory of known as the Mali Federation, which became independent in 1960.

This union was short-lived, and Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the confederation of Senegambia in 1982 – an arrangement that was dissolved in 1989. Separatist activists have pursued a low-level insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict. Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. It was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until current President Abdoulaye Wade was elected in 2000. He was re-elected in February 2007 and has amended Senegal’s constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and to weaken the opposition. His attempt to change the constitution in June 2011 prompted large public protests and his decision to run for a third presidential term sparked a large public backlash that led to his defeat in a March 2012 runoff election with Macky Sall. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania Co-ordinates: 14o 00’N, 14o 00’W Capital: Dakar Area: total: 196,722 km2 land: 192,530 km2 water: 4,192 km2 Land boundaries: 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 Natural resources: Fish, phosphates, iron ore Land use: arable land: 12.51% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 87.25% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 39.4 km3 (1987) ENVIRONMENT Wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation;

overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing GOVERNMENT Type: Republic Seat of government: Dakar Administrative divisions: Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor Independence: 4 April 1960 (from France). Complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 Constitution: Adopted 7 January 2001 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Executive branch: Chief of state: President Macky Sall (since 2 April 2012) Head of government: Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye (since 3 April 2012) 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 February 2012 with a second round runoff on 25 March 2012; prime minister appointed by the president Legislative branch: Bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly or Assembleé Nationale (150 seats; 90 members elected by direct popular vote, remaining members elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms). Senate of 100 seats; 35 indirectly elected, remaining 65 members to be appointed by the President.

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals ECONOMY Senegal’s key export industries are phosphate mining, fishing and fertilizer production. In 1994, the country embarked on a program of reform, dismantling government price controls and subsidies. This has led to a dramatic improvement in the national economy up until 2007, with real growth in GDP averaging over 5% annually and the reduction of inflation to single figures. Since the global economic downturn, real growth has fallen below 2%. Senegal is promoting closer

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economic integration within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), with a single system of tariffs and a more stable monetary policy. High unemployment within the country means that large numbers of Senegalese citizens migrate to Europe.

Senegal has entered into debt-relief agreements with the IMF. This has reduced the national debt by two-thirds.

To date, Senegal has received $540 million from the Millennium Challenge Account for infrastructure and agricultural development. One of the main problems facing the government is the inadequate provision of electricity. In 2010, the Senegalese people protested against frequent power cuts. The government pledged to expand power capacity by 2012 but foreign investment in the country is retarded by Senegal’s unfriendly business environment.

FINANCIAL Budget - revenue: $3.321 billion expenditure: $4.284 billion (2011 est.)

Current account balance: $-1.046 billion (2010 est.)

Economic aid – recipient: $477 million (2007 est.)

External debt: $3.885 billion (2010 est.)

Currency: Communauté Financière Africaine franc (XOF) Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 473.7 (2011), 495.28 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007). Since 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro Fiscal year: calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $25.47 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 2.6% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $1,900 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 22.8% services: 62.2% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 3.4% (2011 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 5.687 million (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate: 48% (2007 est.)

INDUSTRIES Agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining; iron ore, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair AGRICULTURE Products: Peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish ELECTRICITY Production: 2.232 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 1.384 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

OIL Production: 65.12 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 41,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Imports: 36,290 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 50 million m3 (2008 est.)

Consumption: 50 million m3 (2008 est.)

Imports: 0 m3 (1010) Exports: 0 m3 (2010) Proved reserves: 0 m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

EXPORTS Value: $2.515 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton Partners: Mali 22.6%, India 9.2%, France 4.8%, Italy 4.4% (2011) IMPORTS Value: $5.366 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: Food and beverages, capital goods, fuels Partners: France 17.5%, China 10%, UK 8.8%, Nigeria 8.7%, Netherlands 6%, US 5% (2011) COMMUNICATIONS Telephones: 341,900 (2009)

Mobile telephones: 8.344 million (2009) Domestic: Above-average urban system with a fibre-optic network; nearly two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar where a call-centre industry is emerging; expansion of fixed-line services in rural areas needed; mobile service is expanding rapidly International: Country code - 221; the SAT-3/WASC fibreoptic cable provides connectivity to Europe and Asia while Atlantis-2 provides connectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007) Telephone system - general assessment: Good system with microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fibre-optic cable in trunk system Radio stations: RTS operates a national radio network and a number of regional FM stations; a large number of community and private-broadcast radio stations are available Television broadcast stations: State-run Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) operates 2 TV stations Internet country code: .sn Internet users: 1.818 million (2009) TRANSPORTATION Airports: 20 (2012) with paved runways: 9 with unpaved runways: 11 (2012) Railways: 906 km Roads: 14,008 km Waterways: 1,000 km (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2012) Ports and terminals: Dakar CONTACT DETAILS Embassy of the Republic of Senegal Charles Manor 57 Charles Street Bailey’s Muckleneuk, 0181 Postal address: P O Box 2948 Brooklyn Square, 0075 Tel: +27 12 460 5263 Fax: +27 12 346 5550

Inside Africa Directory

SIERRA LEONE Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war caused tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of one-third of its population. Since the elections of 2007, the army, backed by the UN, has secured peace and stability.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 5,485,998 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.277% (2011 est.)

Death rate: 11.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 56.55 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.6% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 49,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - Deaths: 2 800 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: 70.2% (2004) SOCIAL Ethnic groups: Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15% (includes refugees from Liberia’s recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians) (2008 census) Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30% Languages: English (official), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole lingua franca) Literacy: 35.1% (2004 est.)

BACKGROUND In earlier times the region was an important centre of the transatlantic slave trade, and later became a settlement area for freed slaves. In 1896 it was declared a British Protectorate, and in 1951 it became an independent country. The new government was unable to exercise control over the interior, which experienced increasing amounts of conflict as the civil war in neighbouring Liberia spilled over into Sierra Leone. Full-scale civil war began in 1991 and caused almost a decade of devastation and misery. It was resolved in 2000 after the United Nations forces restored civilian rule. Since then, almost 72,500 former combatants have been disarmed and the country has re-established a functioning democracy, but the armed forces still look to the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - a civilian UN mission - to support its efforts to maintain peace. The new government’s priorities include furthering development, creating jobs and stamping out corruption.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia Co-ordinates: 8o 30’N, 11o 30’W Capital: Freetown Area: total: 71,740 km2 land: 71,620 km2 water: 120 km2 Land boundaries: 958 km Border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km Coastline: 402 km Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite Land use: arable land: 7.95% permanent crops: 1.05% other: 91% (2005) Total renewable water resources: 160 km3 (1987) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Rapid population growth; over-harvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; verfishing

GOVERNMENT Type: Constitutional democracy Capital: Freetown Seat of government: Freetown Administrative divisions: 3 Eastern, Northern, Southern provinces, Western area Independence: 27 April 1961 (from Britain) Constitution: October 1991; subsequently amended several times Legal system: Based on English law and customary laws of local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Executive: President Ernest Bai Koroma, since September 2007.

The president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 August 2007 and 8 September 2007 (next to be held in November 2012) Legislative: Unicameral Parliament (124 seats; 112 members elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; to serve five-year terms) Judicial: Supreme Court; Appeal Court; High Court ECONOMY Sierra Leone is an extremely poor nation. Its infrastructure is not sufficiently developed for the country to benefit from its substantial mineral, agricultural and fishing resources, and economic development is still hampered by violence and lawlessness. Most of the population practises subsistence agriculture. Industrial activity is limited to the processing of raw materials and light manufacturing for the domestic market. Alluvial diamond mining accounts for almost half of Sierra Leone’s exports and its main source of currency. The economy depends largely on aid from abroad, and the IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program to help stabilize growth and reduce inflation. In 2010 it approved a three-year program worth $45 million. Since the political situation has stabilised, bauxite and rutile mining has resumed, and the mining industry will benefit from tax incentives.

Significant offshore oil deposits were made public in 2009 and 2010, but they have not yet been developed.

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FINANCIAL Budget: $503.5 million expenditure: $589.7 million (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$603.6 million (2011 est.)

Economic aid: $343.4 million (2005 est.)

Debt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; external: $1.61 billion (2003 est.)

Currency: leone (SLL) Exchange rates: Leones per US dollar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4,400 (2011 est.), NA (2007), 2,961.7 (2006), 2,889.6 (2005), 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003) Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $5.158 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 5.3% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $900 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 51.5% industry: 22% services: 26.5% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 18% (2011 est.)

Exports: 502 502.44 bbl/day (2007 est est.))

Imports: 8,316 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (2010 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 2.207 million (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate: no statistics available

EXPORT Value: $469.7 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish Partners: Belgium 28.9%, Romania 12.6%, Netherlands 9.2%, China 7.3%, US 6.9%, Turkey 6%, UK 5.8% (2011)

INDUSTRIES Diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair AGRICULTURE Products: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts, poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs, fish ELECTRICITY Production: 58 million kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 53.94 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

OIL Production: 28.98 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 25.39 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) Export or import?

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

IMPORT Value: $965.5 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Doodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals Partners: China 16.2%, South Africa 10.9%, US 7.4%, UK 7.2%, India 5.1%, Malaysia 4.3% (2011) COMMUNICATIONS Telephones - main lines in use: 14,000 (2009) Telephones - mobile: 2 million (2009) Telephone system - general assessment: Marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure Domestic: The national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited

International: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2000) International country code: -232 Radio broadcast stations: 1 government-owned, about 24 private stations operating mainly in cities(2007) Television broadcast stations: 2 (2007) Internet country code: .sl Internet users: 14,900 (2009) TRANSPORTATION Airports: 8 (2012) Airports - with paved runways: 1 Airports - with unpaved runways: 7 Heliports: 2 (2012) Roads: 11,300 km Waterways: 800 km (600 km navigable year round) (2011) Ports and terminals: Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands CONTACT DETAILS Mr A G Bangali High Commissioner Extraordinary for the Republic of Sierra Leone House no 0002 Old Airport, W23 K12 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Postal address: P O Box 5619 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 1 710 033 Fax: +251 1 711 911 E-mail: sleone.et@telecom.net

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TOGO Decades of dictatorial government have caused economic stagnation in Togo, but recent developments have allowed Togo to at last be able to exploit its mineral resources and agricultural potential.

NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 6,961,049 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.748% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 35.26 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 7.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 63.17 years (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS prevalence: 3.2% (2009 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 120,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS deaths: 7,700 (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line: 32% (1989 est.)

SOCIAL Ethnic groups: African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1% Religions: Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51% Languages: French (official, the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north) Literacy: 60.9% (2003 est.)

BACKGROUND Togo got its independence from France in 1960. In 1967, General Gnassingbe Eyadema became the military ruler.

He ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades, in spite of the facade of multiparty elections, instituted in the early 1990s. Eyadema’s party, the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), still has a majority of seats in the legislature.

After Eyadema’s death in February 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbe was installed by the army, who then had him formally elected two months later. Since then, Togo has had its first relatively free and fair election, which was held in October 2007. After years of political unrest and human rights abuses, Togo is rejoining the world community – a step that will undoubtedly have a beneficial effect on its economic development. In January 2012, Togo assumed a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term.

GEOGRAPHICAL Location: West Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana Co-ordinates: 8o 00’N, 1o 10’E Capital: Lomé Area: total: 56,785 km2 land: 54,385 km2 water: 2,400 km2 Border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km Coastline: 56 km Natural resources: Phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land Total renewable water resources: 14.7 km3 (2001) ENVIRONMENT Current issues: Deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas GOVERNMENT Type: Republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule Seat of government: Lome Administrative divisions: 5 regions: Centrale, Kara, Maritime,

Plateaux, Savanes Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) Constitution: Multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992, adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992 Legal system: French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Executive branch: Chief of state: President Faure Gnassingbe, since 4 May 2005; Head of government: Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo (since 7 September 2008) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 March 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly of 81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms Elections: Last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012) Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; High Court of Justice; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals or Cour d’Appel; Court of Audits ECONOMY 65% of the workforce is engaged in commercial and subsistence agriculture, but some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cotton is the most important cash crop; With cocoa and coffee it generates 40% of export earnings. Togo is also the world’s fourth-largest producer of phosphate. The aim is to encourage foreign investment and generate more revenue. Progress has been slow, but since the latest round of democratic elections there have been important gains in the areas of privatisation and openness in government financial operations. Togo is on track with its IMF Extended Credit Facility and reached a HIPC debt relief completion point in 2010 at which 95% of the country’s debt was forgiven. Economic growth prospects remain marginal due to declining cotton production and underinvestment in phosphate mining. Economic growth remains marginal due to declining cotton production, under-investment in phosphate mining, and strained relations with donors. Togo completed its IMF

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Extended Credit Facility in 2011 and reached a HIPC debt relief completion point in 2010 at which 95% of the country’s debt was forgiven. Togo continues to work with the IMF on structural reforms.

FINANCIAL Budget: revenue: $794.9 million expenditure: $938.2 million (2011 est.)

Current account balance: -$328 million (2011 est.)

External debt: $1.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Currency: Communauté Financière Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States Exchange rates: Communauté Financière Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 473.7 (2011 est.), 495.28 (2010), 472.19 (2009, 447.81 (2008), 482.71 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005) Fiscal year: Calendar year GDP Purchasing power parity: $6.497 billion (2011 est.)

Real growth rate: 4.1% (2011 est.)

Per capita: $900 (2011 est.)

Composition by sector: agriculture: 46% industry: 23% services: 31% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate: 9.8% (2008 est.)

LABOUR Labour force: 2.595 million (2007) Unemployment rate: No statistics available (2010) INDUSTRIES Phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages AGRICULTURE Products: Coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (manioc), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish ELECTRICITY Production: 156.9 million kWh (2008 est.)

Consumption: 671.9 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est est.))

Imports: 666 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2008 est.)

OIL Production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Consumption: 23,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Imports: 15,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

NATURAL GAS Production: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Consumption: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Imports: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Exports: 0 m3 (2009 est.)

Proved reserves: 0 m3 (1 January 2011 est.)

EXPORTS Value: $865 million (2011 est.)

Commodities: Reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa Partners: China 11.3%, Burkina Faso 8.7%, Benin 8.6%, Niger 6.6%, Germany 6%, India 5.5%, Ghana 5%, Indonesia 4.9% (2011) IMPORTS Value: $1.46 billion (2011 est.)

Commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products Partners: China 35.5%, France 9.4%, Belgium 8.6%, US 5.6%, UK 5.1% (2011)

COMMUNICATION Telephones - main lines in use: 213,800 (2009) Telephones - mobile: 2.452 million (2009) Telephone system: General assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile system Domestic: Microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; combined fixed-line and mobile teledensity roughly 40 telephones per 100 persons with mobile use predominating International: Satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) International country code: -228 Radio broadcast stations: State-owned radio network with multiple stations; several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations (2007) Television stations: 2 state-owned stations with multiple transmission sites; 5 private TV stations broadcast locally (2007) Internet country code: .tg Internet users: 356,300 (2009) TRANSPORTATION Airports: 8 (2012) Airports - with paved runways: 2 Airports - with unpaved runways: 6 Railways: 568 km Roads: 7,520 km Waterways: 50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2011) Ports and terminals: Kpeme, Lome

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Admission criteria: ( KLNYLL VM IHJOLSVYZ ^P[O OVUV\YZ 0 VY OVUV\YZ 00 KP]PZPVU ( VY OH]L X\HSPÄJH[PVUZ ^OPJO PU [OL VWPUPVU VM [OL JVTTP[[LL HYL LX\P]HSLU[ VY H ZH[PZMHJ[VY` Z\IZ[P[\[L Closing date for applications: 14 September 2012 -VY TVYL PUMVYTH[PVU! www.monash.ac.za/research/water-research-node ,THPS! linda.downsborough@monash.edu