República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe

Political Status: Achieved independence from Portugal on July 12, 1975; constitution of November 5, 1975, revised in December 1982, October 1987, August 1990, and March 2003.

Area: 387 sq. mi. (1,001 sq. km.).

Population: 137,599 (2001C); 164,000 (2006E).

Major Urban Center (2005E): SAO TOME (53,600).

Official Language: Portuguese.

Monetary Unit: Dobra (market rate November 2, 2007: 13,740 dobras = $1US).

President: Fradique de MENEZES; popularly elected (as a member of Independent Democratic Action) on July 29, 2001, and sworn in for a five-year term on September 3 to succeed Miguel Anjos da Cunha Lisboa TROVOADA (Independent Democratic Action); reelected (as the candidate of the alliance of the Democratic Movement of Forces for Change and the Party of Democratic Convergence) ...