ese legal system and customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since 30
December 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
proposal of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 30 June and 21 July 1996 (next to be held NA July
2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by
the president
election results: Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's
second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - Miguel
TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD 14.5%,
ADI 29%; seats by party - MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National
Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Front or FDC
; Democratic Opposition Coalition or CODO [leader
NA]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI ; Movement for
the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or
MLSTP-PSD ; Party for Democratic Convergence or
PCD ; other small parties

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Sao Tome and Principe does not
have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the
UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at
122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone
(212) 317-0533

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy
in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao
Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to
the islands

Flag description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow
(double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed