#8 | ERITREA

Current International Dollars: 1,210.15

Despite a promising mining sector, Eritrea suffers the consequences of having one of the most repressive
governments in the world: among other things it faces UN sanctions and must deal with thousands of
citizens fleeing the country every month. Poverty is widespread and income per-capita (PPP) in 2015 is
estimated at just over US $1,200.

#7 | MOZAMBIQUE
Current International Dollars: 1,208.61

Mozambique has enjoyed robust economic growth over the last decade or so, a trend that could be further
strengthened by the development of a promising extracting industry. However, that growth has only
marginally translated into poverty reduction and rural poverty especially remains profound. Per-capita GDP
(PPP) in Mozambique in 2015 was estimated by the IMF to be just less than US $1,210.
Culture Name
Kuwaiti

Alternative Names
State of Kuwait, Dawlat al Kuwayt

Orientation
Identification.Modern day Kuwaitis are the descendants of several nomadic tribes
and clans who ultimately settled on the coast of the Arabian Gulf during the
eighteenth century to avoid the persistent drought of the desert. When they arrived at
the coast, the clans built forts to protect themselves from other nomadic tribes who
still traversed the desert. The name Kuwait is derived fromkut,an Arabic word for
"fort."

Location and Geography.Kuwait is a small country located in the Middle East on

the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It is a desert country with intensely
hot summers and short, cool winters. The terrain varies minimally, between flat and
slightly undulating desert plains.

Demography.The population of Kuwait in 2000 was estimated at 1,973,572,

including 1,159,913 non-Kuwaiti citizens. A variety of ethnic groups reside in this
country, and only around 40 percent of the population is Kuwaiti. People from
surrounding Middle Eastern nations, such as Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon,
Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, constitute 35 percent of the population. This make
up is often in flux, depending on the dynamics and relationships between
surrounding countries. After the Gulf War the entire population of Palestinians was
expelled from Kuwait, because they were believed to sympathize with Iraq. In
addition to these Arabian and African populations, approximately 9 percent of the
population is Indian, 4 percent of the population is Iranian, and the remaining 7
percent is consists of other foreign nationals. Approximately 29 percent of the
population is 14 years or under, 68 percent is between the ages of 15 and 64, and 2
percent of the population is over 65 years of age. Around 60 percent of the
population is male, while 40 percent of the population is female.

Linguistic Affiliation.Arabic is the official language, and English is widely spoken.

History and Ethnic Relations

Emergence of the Nation.For centuries Kuwait was merely a transitory home for Arabic
nomads. Located betweenMesopotamiaand the Indus river valley, this arid terrain was a
trade link between these two civilizations. In the early 16th century Portuguese invaded the
Arabian Gulf and built a fort where Kuwait City now stands. The Portuguese used the area
as a base from which to make further excursions north, but their residence in the Arabian
Desert was short-lived. Thus, up until the 18th century, Kuwait was a territory of shifting
communities.

It was in 1710 that the Sabahs, a nomadic community of people of Arabian descent, settled
in what is now Kuwait city. In the mid 18th century, members of the Utab clan, from what is
now Saudi Arabia, began to settle in Kuwait. Within a span of fifty years, the town burgeoned
into an important trading post, with boat building and the excavation and cultivation of pearls
being the two main industries.

National Identity.Kuwaitis are increasingly a minority in their own country. The fear that has
arisen from this loss of dominance, compounded by the country's precarious relationship
with neighboring nations such as Iraq, has led to extremist policies and practices regarding
the assertion of nationality and the rights of Kuwaiti nationals.

Ethnic Relations.Ethnic Kuwaitis struggle to maintain their cultural dominance in an

increasingly complex society. Dominant Kuwaiti culture is homogeneous, and adheres to
traditional values

Kuwait

developed in the desert plains in accordance with the teachings of Islam. There is tension,
however, between thesecultural normsand the other ethnic groups who reside in Kuwait.
Most Kuwaiti workers have government jobs, an opportunity generally denied to foreign
nationals. Also, there are restrictions against foreigners owning property and businesses.
These social and economic gaps between nationals and other ethnic groups increases
thefrictionbetween Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis residing in the country.

Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space

Over the span of just two hundred years, Kuwait shifted from a nomadic population to an
urban population. The development of the urban environment has largely been influenced by
Islam, and Kuwaiti homes reflect the tenets of Islam as clearly as they reflect the influence of
desert life and culture. Most homes are rectangular in shape and are organized around an
inner courtyard. This courtyard allows for an enclosed yet open environment, and at the
same time protects from the wind and direct sunlight in the arid desert climate. Generally
homes are clustered together to unite and serve the needs of an extended family. As family
size increases, more rooms are built on to accommodate the new members.

The manner in which space is used in Kuwait reflects the traditional relationship between
men and women. In nomadic times, tents would be separated by screens or a cloth, so that
men could entertain unrelated men, as is their custom, without having the guests come into
contact with female kin. With the advent of urban living, homes were built with what is known
as a "double circulation system" so that men and women could avoid contact with one
another, and most importantly so that women were not in contact with strange men.

Food and Economy

Food in Daily Life.After centuries of living as nomads, surviving off of subsistence farming
and animal husbandry, the relatively recent increase in the income of many Kuwaitis has
lead to a rapid rise in the relative obesity of the general population. Still operating under the
precept that plump children are healthy, Kuwaitis eat a very rich diet, and do not engage in
physical exercise like they did in the past. The shift from a nomadic to sedentary lifestyle
happened quickly with industrialization and urbanization coinciding with the advent of the oil
industry in the past century, and habits of nutrition have not completely changed to
accommodate the present environment.

An average Kuwaiti person eats three meals each day. Breakfast often includes some meat,
such as fried liver or kidneys, and a dairy product such as cheese or yogurt. For lunch and
dinner, several meat dishes may be served. In the desert, vegetables and grains were
largely unavailable. Subsequently, meat was a staple of the desert nomad's diet. As in the
past, meat remains a central part of the Kuwaiti diet.

Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions.For Kuwaitis, it is very important to be generous

in providing food for guests. For ceremonial occasions such as weddings, people will roast
an entire sheep and serve it on a bed ofsaffronrice.

As Kuwait is predominately an Islamic country, alcohol is illegal within its borders. Islam
influences many customs regarding food, the most prominent of which is the fasting month
of Ramadan. During Ramadan, practitioners of Islam fast between sunrise and sunset. Also
at this time, the consumption of food, drink, and tobacco in public is forbidden.

Basic Economy.With only 5 percent of the land suitable for farming, Kuwait is dependent on
international trade for the provision of most basic necessities, including food, clothing, and
construction materials. However, that dependency is tempered by the fact that Kuwait is one
of the largest oil producing countries in the world, an energy source upon which virtually
every developed nation is dependent. Kuwait's relationship with trading partners is thus
defined by the countries respective interdependence.

Land Tenure and Property.Many people live in urban areas because of the necessity of
sharing scarce resources in the desert. This factor also influences the price of available
property: prices are high and the general population has limited ability to actually own
property.

Major Industries.The economy of Kuwait is dependent on the oil industry. During the war
with Iraq many oil refining facilities were destroyed, but this industry remains of enormous
importance to Kuwait. To protect oil interests, and to protect against larger countries taking
advantage of Kuwait, the country was one of the founding members of the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Trade.Kuwait was built on the trade between Mesopotamia and the Indus river valley.
Throughout its history Kuwait has depended on trade, and today exports total $13.5 billion
each year in oil, refined products, and fertilizers. Japan, India, the United States, South
Korea, and Singapore are the major recipients of their exports. Kuwait imports $8.1 billion a
year in food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, and clothing from the United States,
Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy.

Division of Labor.The labor force includes 1.3 million people. The government and social
services employ 50 percent of the labor force, businesses employ 40 percent, and the
remaining 10 percent are employed in agriculture. This labor force is divided along ethnic
lines, with Kuwaitis holding most of the government jobs and owning most of the of
businesses in the private sector. Non-Kuwaitis generally labor in various businesses and in
the oil industry.
 The towers and pipes of a Kuwait oil refinery contribute to the nation's most important
industry.

Social Stratification

Classes and Castes.There are five levels of social stratification in Kuwaiti society, and
these divisions are based on wealth. At the apex of the social hierarchy is the ruling family.
Below that are old Kuwaiti merchant families. In the middle of the strata are former
Bedouins, Arabian Desert nomads, who settled in Kuwait with the advent of the oil industry.
Next come Arabs from neighboring countries, and at the bottom of this hierarchy are
foreigners.

Within classes there are strong kinship bonds, which help maintain the social structure.
Social stratification is perpetuated by the state, as in the legal ability to own property by
cultural factors, such as marriage patterns, and by social rights, such as the provision or lack
of state funded education, healthcare, and housing. Within this hierarchy there are enormous
gaps between the vastly rich, the middle class, and the extraordinarily poor migrants.

Political Life

Government.Kuwaiti government is nominally a constitutional monarchy, headed by the

Amir. The constitution was approved and implemented on 11 November 1962. Upon the
development of this
 Kuwaiti men in traditional robes attend a meeting in Kuwait.

constitutional monarchy, Kuwait developed a National Assembly. This form of democracy

was short-lived, however. In August 1976, Sheikh Sabah dissolved the assembly under the
premise that legislation was being manipulated to increase private gain for officials. As a
political system built on a hierarchy of clans,nepotismis rampant in the Kuwaiti government.
Therefore, it is in the Amir's power to dissolve the parliament, and within two months it must
be re-elected, or the previous parliament will be instituted again.
Leadership and Political Officials.There are not any national political parties or leaders,
yet several political groups act as de facto parties; these include the Bedouins, merchants,
nationalists, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists. These de facto parties are divided
along the lines of class and religion.

Social Problems and Control.Social problems stem predominantly from the various
systemic hierarchies. Within these structures, groups and individuals are constantly
struggling to either improve or maintain their position. As of late, the position of women
within these structures has been a subject of great debate. Similarly, the degree to which
Islam should influence political structures is also a source of debate and contention.
Presently, political and social controls are influenced by a combination of Islam and tradition,
but this is being questioned in the increasingly multicultural environment of Kuwait.

Military Activity.Kuwait has an army, navy, and air force. The national police force, national
guard, and coast guard are also part of the military. During 1999-2000, $2.5 billion (U.S.)
was spent on the military.

Social Welfare and Change Programs

Social service programs have long been an important agenda item for Kuwait's government,
with education and health being two of the country's major expenditures. In the past there
have been many programs providing housing and subsidizing services such as water,
electricity, and gasoline. Recently, however, these programs have been cut back and are
being re-evaluated, as they have lead to an extreme amount of reliance on the state for
basic services.

Nongovernmental Organizations and Other Associations

In the past the Kuwait Fund for Arabic Economic Development was one of the largest and
most

Kuwaiti women demonstrate for suffrage. These women reflect the emerging prominence of
women in Kuwaiti political and social life.

influentialnongovernmental organizationsin the country. Founded in 1961, the organization

made massive loans and provided technical expertise to assist Arab and other developing
nations develop their economies. In the aftermath of the war with Iraq, Kuwait has been the
recipient of assistance from neighboring countries.

Gender Roles and Statuses

Division of Labor by Gender.Both Kuwaiti custom and law enforce a division of labor by
gender. Unlike other Arabic countries, women are involved various aspects of the labor
force, but the percentage of women involved in labor outside of the home is small. Those
women who are gainfully employed often work in the social services, in clerical positions,
and as teachers. Few women are owners or managers of small businesses.

The Relative Status of Women and Men.The tension between traditional Kuwaiti Islamic
values and Western values is evidenced in the roles and status afforded to men and women
within Kuwaiti society. Many women still go veiled and wear the traditional black, but many
girls in the younger generation follow the dictates of western fashion. Female students are a
majority at Kuwait University, and women are prominent in the country's commercial life and
in the civil service. Women are openly agitating for the relaxation of social restrictions on
females, more women's rights, and an increase in job opportunities.
Marriage, Family, and Kinship

Marriage.Most marriages in Kuwait are arranged, in accordance with tradition. Intermarriage

occurs within clans, but not between social classes. Women, regardless of their age, need
their father's permission to marry. Also, a woman cannot marry a non-Muslim, although a
man is afforded this privilege. In addition, a woman can only marry one spouse, while a man
has the legal right to four wives.

Domestic Unit.Family forms the basis of Kuwaiti society. Extended families live together,
both out of necessity caused by limited housing space, and so that all family members can
be involved in the socialization of future generations and maintain familial and cultural
traditions.

Inheritance.In accordance with Islam, both men and women have equal property rights.

Socialization

Child Rearing and Education.All schooling for Kuwaitis is free, and between the ages of six
and fourteen, attendance is compulsory. While the government stresses the importance of
education regardless of gender, most schools are segregated on the basis of gender after
kindergarten. The definition of literacy used by the government is that one must be over the
age of fifteen and capable of reading and writing. With this in mind, 79 percent of the
population is literate, with 82 percent of men and 75 percent of women meeting these
criteria.

Higher Education.There is only one university in the country, but because of the great value
placed on education, the government awards scholarships for many Kuwaitis to pursue
higher education. There are also several post-secondary technical institutes where one may
pursue knowledge of electronics, air-conditioning, and diesel and petrol engines, all
necessary to the major industries of Kuwait.

Etiquette

Kuwaitis, like other Arab populations, have different personal boundaries than Westerners.
In general, they sit, talk, and stand closer to one another. It is common for members of the
same sex to touch one another during their interactions as an expression of their friendship,
and men often shake hands upon greeting and departure. Socially, physical contact between
men and women is not acceptable. To Kuwaitis, honor, reputation, and respect are primary
concerns.

Religion

Religious Beliefs.The main religion in Kuwait is Islam: approximately 85 percent of the

population is Muslim. There are two main sub-sects of Islam in Kuwait, 45 percent of the
population is Sunni Muslim, while 40 percent of the population is Shi'a Muslim. The
remaining 15 percent of the population practices Christianity, Hinduism, Parsi, and other
religions.

Rituals and Holy Places.For practitioners, the most essential tenet of Islam is the
purification of the soul through prayers, known assalat,five times each day. The purpose of
this activity is to strengthen one's commitment to god. Cleanliness and properhygieneare
prerequisites for the ritual prayersin Islam good physical health and good spiritual health
are intertwined.

Medicine and Health Care

In Islam the importance of good health cannot be overemphasized. With this in mind every
Kuwaiti citizen is provided both care in sickness and preventative medicine.

Secular Celebrations

Both New Years Day on1 Januaryand Kuwaiti National Day on 25 February are celebrated.

The Arts and Humanities

Graphic Arts.In Kuwait, as in many Islamic countries, the art ofcalligraphyis one of the most
longstanding and thriving forms of expression. Arabic calligraphy is considered to be the
ultimate expression of god's words. Because in traditional Islamsculpturaland figurative
forms of art were perceived as idolatry, calligraphy was considered an acceptable,
alternative form of art and expression.
Kuwait Flag:

The flag of Kuwait was officially adopted on September 7, 1961.

The traditional Pan-Arab colors of black, green, red and white are used on the flag.
Black symbolizes defeat of the country's enemies; green symbolizes the fertility of
the land; red is symbolic of the enemies' bloodshed, and white represents purity.
Japan Map

Japan Facts, Statistics and Information

Population: 127 million people (2010, 10th largest country in the world by population)
Total area: 145,920 sq. miles (377,930 sq. km, 61st largest country by total land area, one
ahead of Germany (137,882 sq. miles) and slightly smaller than California (163,696 sq. miles))
Capital city: Tokyo (population: 13 million (city), 32.5 million people (metro area); The Tokyo
metropolitan area is roughly 50 percent larger than Seoul, South Korea, the worlds second
largest metropolitan area with a population of 20.5 million people.)
Largest Japanese cities (by population, from most to fewest people): Tokyo, Yokohama,
Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Kawasaki, Saitama, Hiroshima, Sendai,
Kitakyushu, Chiba
Ethnic groups: Japanese (approx. 98.5% of population), Koreans (0.5%), Chinese (0.4%),
Other (0.6%)
Language: Japanese (prominent dialects include Kansai, Osaka, Kyoto, Tohoku, other)
Climate and weather: Japans climate ranges from humid continental on the northern island of
Hokkaido to humid subtropical on parts of Honshu south to Okinawa Prefecture on the Ryukyu
islands.
UNDP Human Development Index (HDI): 0.884 (2010, 11th in the world)
GDP per capita (International $, PPP): $32,554 (2009)
Life expectancy at birth: 83.2 years (worlds longest life expectancy)

Geography of Japan
Japan is an archipelago of some 6,852 islands located in a volcanic zone on the Pacific Ring of
Fire. A nearly continuous series of ocean trenches, volcanic arcs and shifting tectonic plates, the
Pacific Ring of Fire accounts for more than 75 percent of the worlds active volcanoes and 90
percent of the worlds earthquakes.
Japans four main islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, make up 97 percent of the
countrys total land area. Honshu is home to Tokyo and many of Japans other largest cities,
including Yokahama, Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe, Kyoto, Kawasaki, Saitama, Hiroshima and Sendai.
Hokkaido, the second largest Japanese island and northernmost prefecture, accounts for nearly
a quarter of Japans arable land. Hokkaido leads Japans other 46 prefectures in the production
of seafood and a host of agricultural products, including soybeans (the key ingredient for tofu and
all things miso), wheat, corn, beef and raw milk. Sapporo, Hokkaidos capital and largest city,
hosts the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, which regularly draws more than 2 million visitors to the
spectacular exhibition of some 400 snow and ice sculptures.
Kyushu, the third largest and most southern of Japans four main islands, is the site of Japans
most active volcano, Mt. Aso, and several cities with important historical, political and commercial
significance, including Nagasaki, Kagoshima and Fukuoka.
Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
Few are likely to ever forget the shocking images of the massive wall of Pacific Ocean water that
engulfed embankments and effortlessly swept away everything in its path in Japans Tohoku
region in March, 2011. The most powerful earthquake to ever hit Japan, and the worlds fifth
most powerful quake in modern history, unleashed waves that reached heights up to 40.5 meters
or 133 feet in the city of Miyako. The devastation wrought by Japans Tohoku earthquake and
tsunami accounted for 57 percent of total economic damages from natural catastrophes and
man-made disasters in 2011.

Japans Economy, Business and

Development
Japan is the worlds third largest economy, having ceded the second spot to China in 2010.
Since the collapse of the property bubble in 1989, Japan has faced extended periods of
economic stagnation, deflation and relatively high unemployment, at least compared to the nearly
full employment Japanese companies managed to sustain for much of the post-WWII era.
Among other issues, Japans economic performance has been constrained by weak domestic
demand and a rigid labor market that has limited risk taking and entrepreneurial activity.
Despite Japans challenging domestic economic environment, many Japanese companies have
continued to perform well on the world stage. As of 2011, Japan counted 68 companies in the
Fortune/CNN Money Global 500 ranking of the worlds largest corporations. Japanese
companies in the top 100 of the Fortune ranking include: Toyota Motor, Hitachi, Honda Motor,
Nissan Motor, Panasonic, Sony and Toshiba. Japans corporate sector has continued to push
the technology envelope in fields such as robotics, medical devices, clean energy, satellite
communications and spacecraft, water processing and other high tech industries.
Toyota became the worlds largest car company in 2009, before losing a bit of ground to
unprecedented product recalls. Nintendos innovative Wii marked a virtual revolution in the large,
global market for gaming and family entertainment products.

Japanese Society, Language and Culture

Japanese society is strikingly homogenous. Ethnic Japanese account for 98.5 percent of the
countrys sizeable population. While different areas of Japan, particularly the central Kansai
region encompassing Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, are known for having distinctive, colorful local
dialects, the whole country essentially speaks the same language.
Traditional Japanese society and culture stress the values of harmony, consensus decision-
making and social conformity. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down is a common
Japanese saying and guideline of social behavior.
Japans Aging, Shrinking Population
Japans population has been aging and shrinking at an alarming rate due to the combination of a
disproportionately large elderly population, one of the lowest fertility rates of any developed,
OECD country and minimal net immigration. Japans fertility rate of roughly 1.2 children born for
every Japanese woman is well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman that is
needed to maintain the existing population level. By 2050, the population of Japan has been
forecasted to contract by more than 25 percent to about 95 million people.

International Relations and Foreign Policy

Japan has deliberately elected to take a largely passive stance toward involvement in
international conflicts and disputes for most of its post-WWII history. Article 9 of The Constitution
of Japan, adopted on November 3, 1946, renounces going to war or the use of force as a means
of settling international disputes. In lieu of a conventional military, Japan established the Japan
Self-Defense Forces (also known as the SDF, JSDF or Jietai) as an extension of the Japanese
police force and a strictly defensive mechanism to provide for the countrys national security and
assist with national emergencies.
Japan first deployed the SDF abroad in 1991 when it dispatched minesweepers to the Persian
Gulf after fighting ceased in the 1991 Gulf War. Since Japan enacted the International Peace
Cooperation Law in 1992, the Japanese government has deployed the SDF on certain overseas
missions to support the U.N.s international peacekeeping operations.
Japan largely relies on the U.S. for protection against external threats. Under the 1960 Treaty of
Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the U.S., the U.S. has agreed to defend
Japan if the country or any of its territories come under attack. Roughly 40,000 U.S. military
personnel and civilians in defense roles are stationed or employed on U.S. military bases located
across Japan.
The majority of U.S. military personnel in Japan are stationed on the main island of Okinawa
Prefecture in Japans Ryukyu Islands, where U.S. military bases occupy about 18 percent of the
territory. Japan pays roughly $2 billion as annual host-nation support to cover the costs and
defense services of the U.S. military presence in Japan.

Japan's national flag is called the Hinomaru. It came to be used as the national flag in the late
nineteenth century. The flag depicts the sun as a red disc against a white background.

The lyrics of Japan's national anthem, "Kimigayo",trace their roots to a 31-syllable poem, or
waka, that was written in the tenth century. "Kimigayo" took on its present form in the latter half of
the nineteenth century, when a melody was added. The words of the song pray for enduring
peace and prosperity in Japan.
Eritrea

Map of Eritrea

State of Eritrea

President: Isaias Afwerki (1993)

Total area: 46,842 sq mi (121,320 sq km)
Population (2014 est.): 6,380,803 (growth rate:
2.3%); birth rate: 30.69/1000; infant mortality rate:
38.44/1000; life expectancy: 63.51
Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Asmara,
712,000
Other large cities: the ports of Massawa, 30,700;
and Assab, 56,300
Monetary unit: Nakfa
National name: Hagere Ertra

Current government officials

Languages: Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official),
English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic
languages
Ethnicity/race: nine recognized ethnic groups:
Tigrinya 55%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Kunama 2%,
Rashaida 2%, Bilen 2%, other (Afar, Beni Amir, Nera)
5% (2010 est.)
National Holiday: Independence Day, May 24
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic,
Protestant
Literacy rate: 68.9% (2011 est.)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP(2013 est.): $4.717
billion; per capita $1,200 . Real growth
rate:7%. Inflation: 13%.Unemployment: n.a. Arable
land:5.87%. Agriculture: sorghum, lentils,
vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal;
livestock, goats; fish. Labor force: 2.955 billion
(2012); agriculture 80%, industry and services
20%.Industries: food processing, beverages,
clothing and textiles, salt, cement, commercial ship
repair. Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc,
copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas,
fish. Exports:$496.2 million (2013 est.): livestock,
sorghum, textiles, food, small
manufactures. Imports:$1.027 billion (2013 est.):
machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured
goods. Major trading partners: Australia, France,
Malaysia, Italy, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan,
Germany, China, Brazil, U.S., Turkey (2006).
Communications: Telephones:main lines in use:
60,000 (2012); mobile cellular: 305,300
(2012).Broadcast media: government controls
broadcast media with private ownership prohibited; 1
state-owned TV station; state-owned radio operates 2
networks; purchases of satellite dishes and Geography
subscriptions to international broadcast media are
permitted (2007). Internet hosts: 701 Eritrea was formerly the northernmost
(2012).Internet users: 200,000 (2008). province of Ethiopia and is about the size
of Indiana. Much of the country is
Transportation: Railways: total: 306 km
mountainous. Its narrow Red Sea coastal
(2008). Highways: total: 4,010 km; paved: 874 km;
plain is one of the hottest and driest places
unpaved: 3,136 km (2000 est.).Ports and
in Africa. The cooler central highlands
harbors: Assab, Massawa. Airports: 13 (2013).
have fertile valleys that support agriculture.
International disputes: Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed Eritrea is bordered by the Sudan on the
to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary north and west, the Red Sea on the north
Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but and east, and Ethiopia and Djibouti on the
neither party responded to the revised line detailed in south.
the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; Government
Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern
Sudanese rebel groups; in 2008 Eritrean troops A transitional government committed to a
moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula democratic system.
and occupied Doumera Island with undefined
sovereignty in the Red Sea. History

Major sources and definitions Eritrea was part of the first Ethiopian
kingdom of Aksum until its decline in the
8th century. It came under the control of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, and later of the
Egyptians. The Italians captured the coastal areas in 1885, and the Treaty of Uccialli (May 2, 1889)
gave Italy sovereignty over part of Eritrea. The Italians named their colony after the Roman name for
the Red Sea, Mare Erythraeum,and ruled there until World War II. The British captured Eritrea in 1941
and later administered it as a UN Trust Territory until it became federated with Ethiopia on Sept. 15,
1952. Eritrea was made an Ethiopian province on Nov. 14, 1962. A civil war broke out against the
Ethiopian government, led by rebel groups who opposed the union and wanted independence for
Eritrea. Fighting continued over the next 32 years.

Eritrea Becomes an Independent Republic

In 1991, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front deposed the country's hard-line
Communist dictator Mengistu. Without Mengistu's troops to battle, the Eritrean People's Liberation
Front was able to gain control of Asmara, the Eritrean capital, and form a provisional government. In
1993, a referendum on Eritrean independence was held, supported by the UN and the new Ethiopian
government. Eritrean voters almost unanimously opted for an independent republic. Ethiopia
recognized Eritrea's sovereignty on May 3, 1993, and sought a new era of cooperation between the
two countries.
The cooperation did not last long. Following Eritrea's independence, Eritrea and Ethiopia disagreed
about the exact demarcation of their borders, and in May 1998 border clashes broke out. Both
impoverished countries spent millions of dollars on warplanes and weapons, about 80,000 people
were killed, and refugees were legion. The war essentially ended in a stalemate, and a formal peace
agreement was signed in Dec. 2000. In Dec. 2005, an international Court of Arbitration ruled that
Eritrea had violated international law when it attacked Ethiopia in 1998.
 Mozambique
Next

Facts & Figures

Map of Mozambique

President: Filipe Nyusi (2015)

Prime Minister: Carlos Agostinho do
Rosrio (2015)
Land area: 302,737 sq mi (784,089
sq km); total area: 309,494 sq mi
(801,590 sq km)
Population (2014 est.): 24,692,144
(growth rate: 2.45%); birth rate:
38.83/1000; infant mortality rate:
72.42/1000; life expectancy:
52.6.note: estimates for this country
explicitly take into account the effects
of excess mortality due to AIDS; this
can result in lower life expectancy,
higher infant mortality, higher death
rates, lower population growth rates,
and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected (July 2014
est.)
Capital and largest city (2011
est.):Maputo, 1.15 million
Monetary unit: Metical
More Facts & Figures
 Index

1. Mozambique Main Page

2. Guerrilla Activity Leads to Independence
3. Civil War
4. Democracy and Economic Growth
5. Peace Pact Collapses Between Opposition and
Government
6. FRELIMO Keeps Majority in 2014 General Election

Geography

Mozambique stretches for 1,535 mi (2,470 km) along Africa's southeast coast. It is nearly twice the
size of California. Tanzania is to the north; Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to the west; and South
Africa and Swaziland to the south. The country is generally a low-lying plateau broken up by 25
sizable rivers that flow into the Indian Ocean. The largest is the Zambezi, which provides access to
central Africa.
Government

Multiparty republic.
History

Bantu speakers migrated to Mozambique in the first millennium, and Arab and Swahili traders settled
the region thereafter. It was explored by Vasco da Gama in 1498 and first colonized by Portugal in
1505. By 1510, the Portuguese had control of all of the former Arab sultanates on the east African
coast. Portuguese colonial rule was repressive.