ed
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991); election last held 3
March 1991 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - Miguel TROVOADA
was elected without opposition in Sao Tome's first multiparty
presidential election
head of government:
Prime Minister Noberto Jose D'Alva COSTA ALEGRE (since 16 May 1992)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the proposal of
the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National People's Assembly:
(Assembleia Popular Nacional) elections last held 20 January 1991
(next to be held NA January 1996); results - PCD-GR 54.4%, MLSTP
30.5%, CODO 5.2%, FDC 1.5%, other 8.4%; seats - (55 total) PCD-GR 33,
MLSTP 21, CODO 1; note - this was the first multiparty election in Sao
Tome and Principe
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group (PCD-GR), Daniel
Lima Dos Santos DAIO, secretary general; Movement for the Liberation
of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), Carlos da GRACA; Christian
Democratic Front (FDC), Alphonse Dos SANTOS; Democratic Opposition
Coalition (CODO), leader NA; other small parties
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
Sao Tome and Principe has no embassy in the US, but does have a
Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos
AUGUSTO Ferreira, located at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New
York, NY 10168, telephone (212) 697-4211
US diplomatic representation:
ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a
nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag:
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

@Sao Tome and Principe, Economy

Overview:
The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since the country gained
independence nearly 15 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa
production has gradually deteriorated because of drought and
misma