Part 64

Long-form name: none Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Honiara Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK; formerly British Solomon Islands) Constitution: 7 July 1978 Legal system: common law National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978) Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament Judicial branch: High Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir George LEPPING (since 27 June 1989, previously acted as governor general since 7 July 1988) Head of Government: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 28 March 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since NA October 1990) Political parties and leaders: People's Alliance Party (PAP); United Party (UP), leader NA; Solomon Islands Liberal Party (SILP), Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU; Nationalist Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU Suffrage: universal at age 21 Elections: National Parliament: last held 22 February 1989 (next to be held NA February 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total) PAP 13, UP 6, NFP 4, SILP 4, LP 2, independents 9 Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant) resides in Honiara (Solomon Islands) US: the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands; Embassy at Mud Alley, Honiara (mailing address is American Embassy, P. O. Box 561, Honiara); telephone (677) 23890; FAX (677) 23488 Flag: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green

:Solomon Islands Economy

Overview: About 90% of the population depend on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Agriculture, fishing, and forestry contribute about 70% to GDP, with the fishing and forestry sectors being important export earners. The service sector contributes about 25% to GDP. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. The economy suffered from a severe cyclone in mid-1986 that caused widespread damage to the infrastructure. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $200 million, per capita $600; real growth rate 6.0% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.2% (1990) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $44 million; expenditures $45 million, including capital expenditures of $22 million (1989 est.) Exports: $67.3 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: fish 46%, timber 31%, copra 5%, palm oil 5% partners: Japan 51%, UK 12%, Thailand 9%, Netherlands 8%, Australia 2%, US 2% (1985) Imports: $86.0 million (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: plant and machinery 30%, fuel 19%, food 16% partners: Japan 36%, US 23%, Singapore 9%, UK 9%, NZ 9%, Australia 4%, Hong Kong 4%, China 3% (1985) External debt: $128 million (1988 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1987); accounts for 5% of GDP Electricity: 21,000 kW capacity; 39 million kWh produced, 115 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: copra, fish (tuna) Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 70% of GDP; mostly subsistence farming; cash crops - cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, timber; other products - rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, cattle, pigs; not self-sufficient in food grains; 90% of the total fish catch of 44,500 metric tons was exported (1988) Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $250 million Currency: Solomon Islands dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 2.8740 (March 1992), 2.7148 (1991), 2.5288 (1990), 2.2932 (1989), 2.0825 (1988), 2.0033 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Solomon Islands Communications

Highways: about 2,100 km total (1982); 30 km paved, 290 km gravel, 980 km earth, 800 private logging and plantation roads of varied construction Ports: Honiara, Ringi Cove Civil air: no major transport aircraft Airports: 33 total, 30 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:Solomon Islands Defense Forces

Branches: Police Force Manpower availability: NA Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

:Somalia Geography

Total area: 637,660 km2 Land area: 627,340 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: 2,340 km total; Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km Coastline: 3,025 km Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 200 nm Disputes: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden; possible claims to Djibouti and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya based on unification of ethnic Somalis Climate: desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 46%; forest and woodland 14%; other 38%; includes irrigated 3% Environment: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification Note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

:Somalia People

Population: 7,235,226 (July 1992), growth rate 2.1% (1992) Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: -12 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 115 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 56 years male, 57 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 7.1 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Somali(s); adjective - Somali Ethnic divisions: Somali 85%, rest mainly Bantu; Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800 Religions: almost entirely Sunni Muslim Languages: Somali (official); Arabic, Italian, English Literacy: 24% (male 36%, female 14%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 2,200,000; very few are skilled laborers; pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30%; 53% of population of working age (1985) Organized labor: General Federation of Somali Trade Unions was controlled by the government prior to January 1991; the fall of SIAD regime may have led to collapse of Trade Union organization

:Somalia Government

Long-form name: none Type: none Capital: Mogadishu Administrative divisions: 16 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic) Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979 National holiday: NA Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Interim President ALI Mahdi Mohamed (since 27 January 1991) Head of Government: Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib (since 27 January 1991) Political parties and leaders: the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; note - formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: President: last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD was reelected without opposition People's Assembly: last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the only party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically elected government will be established Member of: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant); Chancery at Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 342-1575; there is a Somali Consulate General in New York; note - Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991

:Somalia Government

US: Ambassador (vacant); Embassy at K-7, AFGOI Road, Mogadishu (mailing address is P. O. Box 574, Mogadishu); telephone [252] (01) 39971; note - US Embassy evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991 Flag: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)

:Somalia Economy

Overview: One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, with the livestock sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Greatly increased political turmoil in 1991-92 has resulted in a substantial drop in output, with widespread famine a grim fact of life. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, per capita $210; real growth rate -1.4% (1988) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 210% (1989) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $190 million; expenditures $195 million, including capital expenditures of $111 million (1989 est.) Exports: $58.0 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: bananas, livestock, fish, hides, skins partners: US 0.5%, Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986) Imports: $249 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.) commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials partners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986) External debt: $1.9 billion (1989) Industrial production: growth rate -5.0% (1988); accounts for 5% of GDP Electricity: 75,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 10 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining Agriculture: dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats); crops - bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food; fishing potential largely unexploited Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $336 million Currency: Somali shilling (plural - shillings); 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 centesimi Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986)

:Somalia Economy

Fiscal year: calendar year

:Somalia Communications

Highways: 15,215 km total; including 2,335 km paved, 2,880 km gravel, and 10,000 km improved earth or stabilized soil (1983) Pipelines: crude oil 15 km Ports: Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu, Bosaso Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,913 GRT/8,718 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft Airports: 53 total, 40 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: minimal telephone and telegraph service; microwave and troposcatter system centered on Mogadishu connects a few towns; 6,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station; scheduled to receive an ARABSAT ground station

:Somalia Defense Forces

Branches: NA Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,673,542; 942,153 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

:South Africa Geography

Total area: 1,221,040 km2 Land area: 1,221,040 km2; includes Walvis Bay, Marion Island, and Prince Edward Island Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: 4,973 km total; Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 1,078 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km Coastline: 2,881 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay exclave and 12 offshore islands administered by South Africa; South Africa and Namibia have agreed to jointly administer the area for an interim period; the terms and dates to be covered by joint administration arrangements have not been established at this time; and Namibia will continue to maintain a claim to sovereignty over the entire area Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along coast; sunny days, cool nights Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 65%; forest and woodland 3%; other 21%; includes irrigated 1% Environment: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures Note: Walvis Bay is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia; South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

:South Africa People

Population: 41,688,360 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992); includes the 10 so-called homelands, which are not recognized by the US Population: four independent homelands: Bophuthatswana 2,489,347, growth rate 2.86%; Ciskei 1,088,476, growth rate 2.99%; Transkei 4,746,796, growth rate 4.13%; Venda 718,207, growth rate 3.81% six other homelands: Gazankulu 803,806, growth rate 3.96%; Kangwane 597,783, growth rate 3.60%; KwaNdebele 373,012, growth rate 3.40%; KwaZulu 5,748,950, growth rate 3.58%; Lebowa 2,924,584, growth rate 3.90%; QwaQwa 288,155, growth rate 3.60% Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 50 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 4.4 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - South African(s); adjective - South African Ethnic divisions: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6% Religions: most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of blacks are Christian; about 60% of Indians are Hindu; Muslim 20% Languages: Afrikaans, English (both official); many vernacular languages, including Zulu, Xhosa, North and South Sotho, Tswana Literacy: 76% (male 78%, female 75%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980) Labor force: 11,000,000 economically active (1989); services 34%, agriculture 30%, industry and commerce 29%, mining 7% (1985) Organized labor: about 17% of total labor force belongs to a registered trade union (1989); African unions represent 15% of black labor force

:South Africa Government

Long-form name: Republic of South Africa; abbreviated RSA Type: republic Capital: Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial) Administrative divisions: 4 provinces; Cape, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; there are 10 homelands not recognized by the US - 4 independent (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, Venda) and 6 other (Gazankulu, Kangwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu, Lebowa, QwaQwa) Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK) Constitution: 3 September 1984 Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Republic Day, 31 May (1910) Executive branch: state president, Executive Council (cabinet), Ministers' Councils (from the three houses of Parliament) Legislative branch: tricameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of the House of Assembly (Volksraad; whites), House of Representatives (Raad van Verteenwoordigers; Coloreds), and House of Delegates (Raad van Afgevaardigdes; Indians) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: State President Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 13 September 1989) Political parties and leaders: white political parties and leaders: National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE KLERK (majority party); Conservative Party (CP), Dr. Andries P. TREURNICHT (official opposition party); Democratic Party (DP), Zach DE BEER Colored political parties and leaders: Labor Party (LP), Allan HENDRICKSE (majority party); Freedom Party; note - the Democratic Reform Party (DRP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) were disbanded in May 1991 Indian political parties and leaders: Solidarity, J. N. REDDY (majority party); National People's Party (NPP), Amichand RAJBANSI; Merit People's Party Suffrage: universal at age 18, but voting rights are racially based Elections: House of Assembly (whites): last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held by NA March 1995); results - NP 58%, CP 23%, DP 19%; seats - (178 total, 166 elected) NP 103, CP 41, DP 34; note - by February 1992 because of byelections, changes in number of seats held by parties were as follows: NP 102, CP 42, DP 33, vacant 1 House of Representatives (Coloreds): last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held no later than March 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total, 80 elected) LP 69, DRP 5, UDP 3, Freedom Party 1, independents 2; note - since the National Party became multiracial, by February 1992 many representatives from other

## parties have changed their allegiance causing the following changes in

seating: LP 39, NP 38, Freedom Party 1, independents 7

:South Africa Government

House of Delegates (Indians): last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held no later than March 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total, 40 elected) Solidarity 16, NPP 9, Merit People's Party 3, independents 6, other 6; note - due to delegates changing party affiliation, seating as of February 1992 is as follows: Solidarity 25, NPP 7, Merit People's Party 2, other 5, independents 5, vacancy 1 Communists: South African Communist Party, Chris HANI, secretary general, and Joe SLOVO, national chairman Other political or pressure groups: African National Congress (ANC), Nelson MANDELA, president; Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president; Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), Clarence MAKWETU, president Member of: BIS, CCC, ECA, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO (suspended), ICC, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT, ISO, ITU (suspended), LORCS, SACU, UN, UNCTAD, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO (suspended) Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Harry SCHWARZ; Chancery at 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-4400; there are South African Consulates General in Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, Houston, and New York US: Ambassador William L. SWING; Embassy at Thibault House, 225 Pretorius Street, Pretoria; telephone [27] (12) 28-4266, FAX [27] (12) 21-92-78; there are US Consulates General in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg Flag: actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side

:South Africa Economy

Overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment, lack of job skills, and barriers to movement into higher-paying fields. Inputs and outputs thus do not move smoothly into the most productive employments, and the effectiveness of the market is further lowered by international constraints on dealings with South Africa. The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports. Average growth of less than 2% in output in recent years falls far short of the 5% to 6% level needed to absorb some 300,000 new entrants to the labor force annually. Economic developments in the 1990s will be driven partly by the changing relations among the various ethnic groups. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $104 billion, per capita $2,600; real growth rate - 0.5% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.7% (March 1992) Unemployment rate: 40% (1991); well over 50% in some homeland areas (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $29.4 billion; expenditures $35.0 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (FY93 est.) Exports: $24.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: gold 25-30%, minerals and metals 20-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3% partners: Italy, Japan, US, FRG, UK, other EC members, Hong Kong Imports: $18.8 billion (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles, scientific instruments, base metals partners: FRG, Japan, UK, US, Italy External debt: $19.0 billion (December 1991) Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 40% of GDP Electricity: 46,000,000 kW capacity; 180,000 million kWh produced, 4,100 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs Agriculture: accounts for about 5% of GDP and 30% of labor force; diversified agriculture, with emphasis on livestock; products - cattle, poultry, sheep, wool, milk, beef, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; self-sufficient in food Economic aid: NA Currency: rand (plural - rand); 1 rand (R) = 100 cents

:South Africa Economy

Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1 - 2.7814 (January 1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

:South Africa Communications

Railroads: 20,638 km route distance total; 35,079 km of 1.067-meter gauge trackage (counts double and multiple tracking as single track); 314 km of 610 mm gauge Highways: 188,309 km total; 54,013 km paved, 134,296 km crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth Pipelines: crude oil 931 km, petroleum products 1,748 km, natural gas 322 km Ports: Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richard's Bay, Saldanha, Mosselbaai, Walvis Bay Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 213,708 GRT/201,043 DWT; includes 4 container, 1 vehicle carrier Civil air: 90 major transport aircraft Airports: 901 total, 732 usable; 132 with permanent-surface runways; 5 with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 224 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa; it consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay links, fiber optic cable, and radiocommunication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria; over 4,500,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 286 FM, 67 TV; 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

:South Africa Defense Forces

Branches: South African Defense Force (SADF; including Army, Navy, Air Force, Medical Services), South African Police (SAP) Manpower availability: males 15-49, 10,051,202; 6,133,484 fit for military service; 420,275 reach military age (18) annually; obligation for service in Citizen Force or Commandos begins at 18; volunteers for service in permanent force must be 17; national service obligation is one year; figures include the so-called homelands not recognized by the US Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, about 3% of GDP (FY92)

:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Geography

Total area: 4,066 km2 Land area: 4,066 km2; includes Shag and Clerke Rocks, South Georgia, Bird Island, South Sandwich Islands Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island Land boundaries: none Coastline: undetermined Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some

## active volcanoes

Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%; largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen Environment: reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia; weather conditions generally make it difficult to approach the South Sandwich Islands; the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanism Note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage

:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands People