The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is a tiny two-island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, distanced 140 kilometers from one another, and situated about 250 and 225 kilometers, respectively, off the northwestern coast of Gabon. Both islands are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range. São Tomé, the sizable southern island, is situated almost exactly on the equator. It is named after Saint Thomas Day, the day of its discovery by Portuguese explorers. The cathedral of São Tomé São Tomé (population 53,300 (in 2003) is the capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe and is by far the nations largest town. ... Príncipe is the smaller of the two major islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. ... A small island in the Adriatic sea An island is any piece of land smaller than a continent and larger than a rock, that is completely surrounded by water. ... The gigantic Gulf of Guinea is the part of the Atlantic southwest of Africa. ... The Gabonese Republic, or Gabon, is a nation of west central Africa. ... This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... The most general definition of mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands. ... In geography, the equator is an imaginary line drawn around a planet, halfway between the poles, where the surface of the roughly spherical planet is parallel to the axis of rotation. ... Thomas was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. ... For additional context, see History of Portugal. ...

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: n/a
Official language	Portuguese
Capital	São Tomé
President	Fradique de Menezes
Prime Minister	Damião Vaz d'Almeida
Area  - Total % water	Ranked 169th 1,001 km² 0% (islands)
Population  - Total (Year)  - Density	Ranked 174th 165,034 170/km²
Independence	12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Currency	Dobra (STD)
Time zone	UTC
National anthem	Independência total
Internet TLD	.st
Calling Code	239

File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File links The following pages link to this file: São Tomé and Príncipe List of national coats of arms Categories: Images with unknown source ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The flag of São Tomé and Príncipe was adopted on November 5, 1975. ... Here is a list of state mottos for countries and their subdivisions around the world. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... An official language is something that is given a unique status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Portuguese (português) is a Romance language predominantly spoken in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and East Timor. ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... The cathedral of São Tomé São Tomé (population 53,300 (in 2003) is the capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe and is by far the nations largest town. ... List of Heads of State of São Tomé and Príncipe Affiliations:- See also:- São Tomé and Príncipe Heads of Government of São Tomé and Príncipe Lists of Incumbents Categories: Lists of office-holders | São Tomé and Príncipe ... Categories: Stub | São Tomé and Príncipe ... Political Parties Categories: São Tomé and Príncipe ... Prime Minister Damião Vaz d’Almeida Damião Vaz dAlmeida (born 28 April 1951) is the current Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe and vice-president of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD), the largest party in the National Assembly. ... This article explains the meaning of area as a physical quantity. ... Here is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... In the most common sense of the word, a population is the collection of people—or organisms of a particular species—living in a given geographic area. ... Population density can be used as a measurement of any tangible item. ... This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population. ... Independence is autonomous self-government of a country by its residents and indigenous population. ... July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining. ... -1... UTC also stands for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time, is an atomic realization of Universal Time or Greenwich mean time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... This is a list of national anthems. ... Independência total is the national anthem of São Tomé and Príncipe. ... A top-level domain (TLD) is the last part of which Internet domain names consist of. ... .st is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for São Tomé and Príncipe. ...

History

Main article: History of São Tomé and Príncipe The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were uninhabited before the arrival of the Portuguese sometime in 1469, 1470, or 1471. ...

The islands were first discovered by Portuguese navigators between 1469 and 1472. The first successful settlement of Sao Tome was established in 1493 by Alvaro Caminha, who received the land as a grant from the Portuguese crown. Principe was settled in 1500 under a similar arrangement. By the mid-1500s, with the help of slave labor, the Portuguese settlers had turned the islands into Africa's foremost exporter of sugar. Sao Tome and Principe were taken over and administered by the Portuguese crown in 1522 and 1573, respectively.

Sugar cultivation declined over the next 100 years, and by the mid-1600s, Sao Tome was little more than a port of call for bunkering ships. In the early 1800s, two new cash crops, coffee and cocoa, were introduced. The rich volcanic soils proved well suited to the new cash crop industry, and soon extensive plantations (roças), owned by Portuguese companies or absentee landlords, occupied almost all of the good farmland. By 1908, Sao Tome had become the world's largest producer of cocoa, still the country's most important crop.

The rocas system, which gave the plantation managers a high degree of authority, led to abuses against the African farm workers. Although Portugal officially abolished slavery in 1876, the practice of forced paid labor continued. In the early 1900s, an internationally publicized controversy arose over charges that Angolan contract workers were being subjected to forced labor and unsatisfactory working conditions. Sporadic labor unrest and dissatisfaction continued well into the 20th century, culminating in an outbreak of riots in 1953 in which several hundred African laborers were killed in a clash with their Portuguese rulers. This "Batepa Massacre" remains a major event in the colonial history of the islands, and the government officially observes its anniversary.

By the late 1950s, when other emerging nations across the African Continent were demanding independence, a small group of Sao Tomeans had formed the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Principe (MLSTP), which eventually established its base in nearby Gabon. Picking up momentum in the 1960s, events moved quickly after the overthrow of the Salazar and Caetano dictatorship in Portugal in April 1974. The new Portuguese regime was committed to the dissolution of its overseas colonies; in November 1974, their representatives met with the MLSTP in Algiers and worked out an agreement for the transfer of sovereignty. After a period of transitional government, São Tome and Principe achieved independence on July 12, 1975, choosing as its first President the MLSTP Secretary General, Manuel Pinto da Costa.

In 1990, São Tomé became one of the first African countries to embrace democratic reform, and changes to the constitution--the legalization of opposition political parties--led to elections in 1991 that were nonviolent, free, and transparent. Miguel Trovoada, a former Prime Minister who had been in exile since 1986, returned as an independent candidate and was elected President. Trovoada was re-elected in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election in 1996. The Party of Democratic Convergence (PCD) toppled the MLSTP to take a majority of seats in the National Assembly, with the MLSTP becoming an important and vocal minority party. Municipal elections followed in late 1992, in which the MLSTP came back to win a majority of seats on five of seven regional councils. In early legislative elections in October 1994, the MLSTP won a plurality of seats in the Assembly. It regained an outright majority of seats in the November 1998 elections. The Government of Sao Tome fully functions under a multiparty system. Presidential elections were held in July 2001. The candidate backed by the Independent Democratic Action Party, Fradique de Menezes, was elected in the first round and inaugurated on September 3. Parliamentary elections held in March 2002 led to a coalition government after no party gained a majority of seats. An attempted coup d’etat by a few members of the military and the Christian Democratic Front (mostly representative of former Sao Tomean volunteers from the apartheid-era Republic of South African Army) in July 2003 was reversed by international, including American, mediation without bloodshed. In September 2004, President de Menezes dismissed the Prime Minister and appointed a new cabinet, which was accepted by the majority party. 

Politics

Main article: Politics of São Tomé and Príncipe Following the promulgation of a new constitution in 1990, São Tomé and Príncipe held multiparty elections for the first time since independence. ...

In 1990, São Tomé became one of the first African countries to embrace democratic reform and changes to the constitution - the legalization of opposition political parties - led to elections in 1991 that were nonviolent, free, and transparent. Miguel Trovoada, a former prime minister who had been in exile since 1986, returned as an independent candidate and was elected president. Trovoada was re-elected in São Tomé's second multiparty presidential election in 1996. The Party of Democratic Convergence (PCD) toppled the MLSTP to take a majority of seats in the National Assembly, with the MLSTP becoming an important and vocal minority party. São Tomé and Príncipe held its first multi-party elections to the 55-member National Peoples Assembly (later renamed the National Assembly) on 20 January 1991. ... Miguel dos Anjos Trovoada (born 1936) was a former prime minister and president of São Tomé and Príncipe. ... The first direct presidential election in São Tomé and Príncipe open to multiple candidates was held on 3 March 1991. ... The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe held presidential elections on 30 June 1996. ...

Municipal elections followed in late 1992, in which the MLSTP came back to win a majority of seats on five of seven regional councils. In early legislative elections in October 1994, the MLSTP won a plurality of seats in the Assembly. It regained an outright majority of seats in the November 1998 elections. Presidential elections were held in July 2001. The candidate backed by the Independent Democratic Action Party, Fradique de Menezes, was elected in the first round and inaugurated on September 3. Parliamentary elections were held in March 2002. On 2 October 1994, São Tomé and Príncipe held its second National Assembly election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... On 8 November 1998, São Tomé and Príncipe held its third National Assembly election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990. ... The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe held presidential elections on 29 July 2001. ... Categories: Stub | São Tomé and Príncipe ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... On 3 March 2002, São Tomé and Príncipe held its fourth National Assembly election since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990. ...

On July 16, 2003, Maj. Fernando Pereira took over the government in a military coup. Prime Minister Maria das Neves and other ministers were detained by Pereira's forces. It is believed that the coup was, in part, a response to the administration's dealings with various oil corporations. After a week of negotiations Pereira's junta signed an accord with the former leaders and stepped down, and de Menezes and das Neves resumed power. Prime Minister das Neves was dismissed from her post on 15 September 2004. Damião Vaz d'Almeida formed a new government, which was sworn in on September 18 2004. July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... Fernando Cobo Pereira is a major in the military of São Tomé and Príncipe. ... Maria das Neves Maria das Neves (born 1958) is a former prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe. ... Oil is a generic term for organic liquids that are not miscible with water. ... A corporation (usually known in the United Kingdom and Ireland as a company) is a legal entity (distinct from a natural person) that often has similar rights in law to those of a Civil law systems may refer to corporations as moral persons; they may also go by the name... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... Prime Minister Damião Vaz d’Almeida Damião Vaz dAlmeida (born 28 April 1951) is the current Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe and vice-president of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD), the largest party in the National Assembly. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ...

Provinces

Main article: Provinces of São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe is divided into 2 provinces: São Tomé (Capital: São Tomé)- The province is made up of the equatorial Atlantic island of São Tomé and is home to an overwhelming majority of the nations citizens with an estimated population in 2004 of...

São Tomé and Príncipe is divided into 2 provinces: Príncipe, São Tomé Province is a name for a secondary, or subnational entity of government in most countries. ... Príncipe is the smaller of the two major islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. ... The cathedral of São Tomé São Tomé (population 53,300 (in 2003) is the capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe and is by far the nations largest town. ...

note: Príncipe has had self-government since April 29, 1995 April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ...

Geography

Map of São Tomé and Príncipe

Main article: Geography of São Tomé and Príncipe map of São Tomé and Príncipe, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF File links The following pages link to this file: Geography of São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... map of São Tomé and Príncipe, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF File links The following pages link to this file: Geography of São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... São Tomé and Príncipe is a small nation composed of an archipelago located in the Gulf of Guinea of equatorial Atlantic Ocean. ...

The islands of Sao Tome and Principe, situated in the equatorial Atlantic about 300 and 250 kilometers (200 mi. and 150 mi.), respectively, off the northwest coast of Gabon, constitute Africa's smallest country. Both are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range, which also includes the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea to the north and Mount Cameroon on the African west coast. Sao Tome is 50 kilometers (31 mi.) long and 32 kilometers (20 mi.) wide and the more mountainous of the two islands. Its peaks reach 2,024 meters (6,640 ft.). Principe is about 30 kilometers (19 mi.) long and 6 kilometers (4 mi.) wide. Swift streams radiating down the mountains through lush forest and cropland to the sea cross both islands.

At sea level, the climate is tropical--hot and humid with average yearly temperatures of about 27oC (80oF) and little daily variation. At the interior's higher altitudes, the average yearly temperature is 20oC (68oF), and nights are generally cool. Annual rainfall varies from 500 centimeters (200 in.) on the southwestern slopes to 100 centimeters (40 in.) in the northern lowlands. The rainy season runs from October to May.

• The island of Sao Tome is 48 kilometers (30 miles) long and 32 kilometers (20 miles) wide and the more mountainous of the two islands. The capital, also named São Tomé, lies on this island.

• The island of Principe is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) long and 6 kilometers (4 miles) wide.

Both islands are crossed by swift streams radiating down the mountains through lush forest and cropland to the sea. Rainforest trekking is one of the islands attractions São Tomé Island is, at 854 km², the largest island of São Tomé and Príncipe and is home to 96% of the nations population. ... The cathedral of São Tomé São Tomé (population 53,300 (in 2003) is the capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe and is by far the nations largest town. ... The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, situated in the equatorial Atlantic about 300 and 250 kilometers (200 and 150 miles), respectively, off the northwestern coast of Gabon, constitute one of Africas smallest countries. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of São Tomé and Príncipe The economy of São Tomé and Príncipe while traditionally dependent on cocoa is experiencing considerable changes due to investment in the development of its oil industry its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. ...

Since the 1800s, the economy of Sao Tome and Principe has been based on plantation agriculture. At the time of independence, Portuguese-owned plantations occupied 90% of the cultivated area. After independence, control of these plantations passed to various state-owned agricultural enterprises, which have since been privatized. The dominant crop on Sao Tome is cocoa, representing about 95% of exports. Other export crops include copra, palm kernels, and coffee.

Domestic food-crop production is inadequate to meet local consumption, so the country imports some of its food. Efforts have been made by the government in recent years to expand food production, and several projects have been undertaken, largely financed by foreign donors.

Other than agriculture, the main economic activities are fishing and a small industrial sector engaged in processing local agricultural products and producing a few basic consumer goods. The scenic islands have potential for tourism, and the government is attempting to improve its rudimentary tourist industry infrastructure. The government sector accounts for about 11% of employment.

Following independence, the country had a centrally directed economy with most means of production owned and controlled by the state. The original constitution guaranteed a “mixed economy,” with privately owned cooperatives combined with publicly owned property and means of production. In the 1980s and 1990s, the economy of Sao Tome encountered major difficulties. Economic growth stagnated, and cocoa exports dropped in both value and volume, creating large balance-of-payments deficits. Efforts to redistribute plantation land resulted in decreased cocoa production. At the same time, the international price of cocoa slumped.

In response to its economic downturn, the government undertook a series of far-reaching economic reforms. In 1987, the government implemented an International Monetary Fund (IMF) structural adjustment program, and invited greater private participation in management of the parastatals, as well as in the agricultural, commercial, banking, and tourism sectors. The focus of economic reform since the early 1990s has been widespread privatization, especially of the state-run agricultural and industrial sectors.

The Sao Tomean Government has traditionally obtained foreign assistance from various donors, including the UN Development Programme, the World Bank, the European Union (EU), Portugal, Taiwan, and the African Development Bank. In April 2000, the IMF approved a poverty reduction and growth facility for Sao Tome aimed at reducing inflation to 3% for 2001, raising ideal growth to 4%, and reducing the fiscal deficit. In late 2000, Sao Tome qualified for significant debt reduction under the IMF-World Bank’s heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. The reduction is currently being reevaluated by the IMF, due to the attempted coup d’etat in July 2003 and subsequent emergency spending. Following the truce, the IMF decided to send a mission to Sao Tome to evaluate the macroeconomic state of the country. This evaluation is ongoing, reportedly pending oil legislation to determine how the government will manage incoming oil revenues.

In 2001, Sao Tome and Nigeria reached agreement on joint exploration for petroleum in waters claimed by the two countries. After a lengthy series of negotiations, in April 2003 the joint development zone (JDZ) was opened for bids by international oil firms. The JDZ was divided into 9 blocks; the winning bids for block one, ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, and the Norwegian firm Equity Energy, were announced in April 2004, with Sao Tome to take in 40% of the $123 million bid, and Nigeria the other 60%. Bids on other blocks were still under consideration in October 2004. Sao Tome stands to gain significant revenue both from the bidding process and from follow-on production, should reserves in the area match expectations.

Portugal remains one of Sao Tome's major trading partners, particularly as a source of imports. Food, manufactured articles, machinery, and transportation equipment are imported primarily from the EU.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of São Tomé and Príncipe Of São Tomé and Príncipes total population, about 131,000 live on São Tomé and 6,000 on Príncipe. ...

Of Sao Tome and Principe's total population, about 137,500 live on Sao Tome and 6,000 on Principe. All are descended from various ethnic groups that have migrated to the islands since 1485. Six groups are identifiable:

• Mestiços, or mixed-blood, descendants of African slaves brought to the islands during the early years of settlement from Benin, Gabon, and Congo (these people also are known as filhos da terra or "sons of the land");
• Angolares, reputedly descendants of Angolan slaves who survived a 1540 shipwreck and now earn their livelihood fishing;
• Forros, descendants of freed slaves when slavery was abolished;
• Serviçais, contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, living temporarily on the islands;
• Tongas, children of serviçais born on the islands; and
• Europeans, primarily Portuguese.

In the 1970s, there were two significant population movements--the exodus of most of the 4,000 Portuguese residents and the influx of several hundred Sao Tomean refugees from Angola. The islanders have been absorbed largely into a common Luso-African culture. Almost all belong to the Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, or Seventh-day Adventist Churches, which in turn retain close ties with churches in Portugal.

Culture

Main article: Culture of São Tomé and Príncipe

• Music of São Tomé and Príncipe
• List of writers from São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country off the coast of Africa. ... African Writers (by country): This is a list of literary figures from the African continent, listed by country, including poets, novelists, childrens writers, essayists, and scholars, listed by country. ...

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in São Tomé and Príncipe
• Transportation in São Tomé and Príncipe
• Military of São Tomé and Príncipe
• Foreign relations of São Tomé and Príncipe
• Holidays in São Tomé and Príncipe
• Elections in São Tomé and Príncipe

Telephones - main lines in use: 3,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 38,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997) Televisions: 23,000 (1997) Internet Service... Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1996 est. ... The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe off the coast of West Africa maintains a very small military, consisting of four branches: the Army, the Coast Guard, the Presidential Guard, and the National Guard. ... Until independence in 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe had few ties abroad except those that passed through Portugal. ... Categories: São Tomé and Príncipe ... 1991 legislative election 1991 presidential election 1994 legislative election 1996 presidential election 1998 legislative election 2001 presidential election 2002 legislative election ...

External link

• A collection of links on São Tomé and Príncipe (http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Sao_Tome.html)
• Article on recent politics: [1] (http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030716.wsaotome0716/BNStory/International/) [2] (http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2913788,00.html)
• São Tomé and Príncipe Government & Political Resources Page (http://saotome-principe.tripod.com/index.html)