Long-form name: Republic of Fiji

Type: military coup leader Major General Sitiveni Rabuka formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Capital: Suva

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)

Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended October 1987)

Legal system: based on British system

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

Branches: executive--prime minister and Cabinet; judicial--Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Magistrate's Courts

Leader: @m5Chief of State--President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU (since 5 December 1987); @m5Head of Government--Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 5 December 1987); note--Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara served as prime minister from 10 October 1970 until the April 1987 election; after a second coup led by Major General Sitiveni Rabuka on 25 September 1987, Ratu Mara was reappointed as prime minister

Suffrage: universal adult

Elections: last held April 1987, currently in abeyance following coup on 14 May 1987

Political parties: Alliance, primarily Fijian, headed by Ratu Mara; National Federation, primarily Indian, headed by Siddiq Koya; Western United Front, Fijian, Ratu Osea Gavidi; Fiji Labor Party (founded in mid-1985), headed by Dr. Timoci Bavadra

Communists: some

Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, EC (associate), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Counselor (Commercial), Vice Consul, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Abdul H. YUSUF; Chancery at Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 337-8320; there is a Fijian Consulate in New York; US--Ambassador Leonard ROCHWARGER; Embassy at 31 Loftus Street, Suva (mailing address is P. O. Box 218, Suva); telephone �679� 314-466 or 314-069

Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of St. George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

NOTE: The information regarding Fiji on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Fiji Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Fiji Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.