Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP 39.6%, Force for
Change Democratic Movement 39.4%, Ue-Kedadji coalition 16.2%; seats
by party - MLSTP 24, Force for Change Democratic Movement 23,
Ue-Kedadji coalition 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; Force for Change
Democratic Movement [leader NA]; Independent Democratic Action or
ADI [Carlos NEVES]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and
Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Manuel Pinto Da
COSTA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Aldo BANDEIRA];
Ue-Kedadji coalition [leader NA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does
have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary
Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor,
New York, NY 10022, telephone [1] (212) 317-0580
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the
Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a
nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and
green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the
center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the
hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Sao Tome and Principe
Economy - overview:
This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on
cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially
declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement, but
strengthening prices helped boost export earnings in 2003. Sao Tome
has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods,
and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has had
difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on
concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200
million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC) program, but lacking a formal poverty
reduction program with the IMF, it has not benefited from subsequent
HIPC debt reductions. Sao Tome's external debt stands at over $300
million. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist
industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in
recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price
controls and subsidies. Sao Tome is optimistic about the development
of petroleum resources in its territorial waters in the oil-rich
Gulf of Guinea. The first production license was sold to a
consortium led by US-based oil firms. Much of the 2005 budget is
dependent upon the sale of additional production licenses.