, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Military
Madagascar

Military branches:

People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and
Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for male-only compulsory military service;
18-month conscript service obligation (either military or equivalent
civil service); 20-30 years of age for National Gendarmerie recruits
(35 years of age for those with military experience) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,443,341
females age 16-49: 4,441,124 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,034,600
females age 16-49: 3,271,732 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 230,088
female: 229,932 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Madagascar

Disputes - international:

claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de
Nova Island (all administered by France)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used
mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Malawi

Introduction
Malawi

Background:

Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became
the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of
one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country
held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution
that came into full effect the following year. Current President
Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by
the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another
term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor and
subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) in 2005. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen substantial
economic improvement but because of political deadlock in the
legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant
legislation, and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population
growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and
the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major