1989 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1989 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Administrative divisions
2 districts (concelhos, singular — concelho); Principe, Sao Tome
Capital
Sao Tome
Constitution
5 November 1975, approved 15 December 1982
Elections
President — last held 30 September 1985 (next to be held September 1990); results— President Dr. Manuel Pinto da Costa was reelected without opposition by the National People's Assembly; National People's Assembly — last held 30 September 1 985 (next to be held September 1990); results— MLSTP is the only party; seats— (40 total) MLSTP 40 (indirectly elected)
Executive branch
president, prime minister. Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Independence
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Leaders
Chief of State — President Dr. Manuel Pinto da COSTA (since 12 July 1975); Head of Government — Prime Minister Celestino Rocha da COSTA (since 8 January 1988) Political parties and leaders: only party — Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), Dr. Manuel Pinto da Costa
Legal system
based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National People's Assembly, sometimes referred to as the National Popular Assembly (Assembleia Popular Nacional)
Member of
ACP, AfDB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
republic
Communications
Branches
public security or police force of less than 50 people
Defense expenditures
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Highways
104 km
Military manpower
all fit men ages 16-60 constitute a militia that can serve as an army
Telecommunications
automatic telephone system; 1 1 ,700 telephones; stations — no AM, 20 FM, no TV; radio relay and cable links into Italian networks; no communication satellite facilities Defense Forces