Long-form name: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

Type: republic

Capital: Sao Tome

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular--concelho); Principe, Sao Tome

Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Constitution: 5 November 1975, approved 15 December 1982

Legal system: based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Branches: president heads the government assisted by a Cabinet of ministers; unicameral legislature (40-member National People's Assembly), elected for five years

Leaders: @m5Chief of State President Dr. Manuel Pinto da COSTA (since 12 July 1975); @m5Head of Government Prime Minister Celestino Rocha da COSTA (since 8 January 1988)

Suffrage: universal for age 18 and over

Elections: President da Costa reelected by National People's Assembly in May 1980 and September 1985; National People's Assembly and People's District Assemblies elections last held in 1985

Political parties and leaders: Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP) Marxist-Lennist Party, Manuel Pinto da Costa

Member of: AfDB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Joaquim Rafael BRANCO; Chancery (temporary) at 801 Second Avenue, Suite 1504, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 697-4211; US--the US Ambassador in 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

NOTE: The information regarding Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Sao Tome and Principe Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.