Government: Constitution approved in referendum on June 7, 1992. Islam is state religion. President elected by universal suffrage for five-year term; president nominates ministers to form twelve-member Council of Government; prime minister belongs to majority party in legislature. Bicameral legislature: Federal Assembly elected for four-year terms; Senate appointed by Electoral College. Supreme Court and judiciary independent branch.
Politics: More than twenty political parties active in 1994. Most recent election in December 1993, with voting irregularities. Incumbent ruling coalition declared selves winners with twenty-two of forty-two seats. Opposition parties refused to participate in legislature.
Foreign Relations: Close relationships traditionally with France and recently with conservative Persian Gulf states and to lesser extent with South Africa. Good regional relations with Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles in Indian Ocean Commission. Also developing relations with China and Japan.
Data as of August 1994