Telephones - main lines in use: 21,000 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,290 (1997)

Telephone system: general assessment: minimal domestic and
international facilities

domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all
inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service

international: satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 35,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 10,000 (1999)

Internet country code: .mv

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)

Internet users: 2,000 (2000)

Maldives Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: NA km

paved: NA km

unpaved: NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the
city (1988 est.)

Waterways: none

Ports and harbors: Gan, Male

Merchant marine: total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
58,604 GRT/81,451 DWT

ships by type: cargo 16, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)

Airports: 5 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Maldives Military

Military branches: National Security Service

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 71,856 (2001
est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49:
40,006 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%

Maldives Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

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@Mali

Mali Introduction

Background: The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of
France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after
only a few months, the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by
dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with a transitional
government, and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic presidential
election was held. Since his reelection in 1997, President KONARE
has continued to push through political and economic reforms and to
fight corruption. In 1999 he indicated he would not run for a third
term.

Mali Geography

Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 1.24 million sq km

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