Guyanamales age 15-49: 157,264 (2004 est.)
Haitimales age 15-49: 975,341 (2004 est.)
Hondurasmales age 15-49: 977,130 (2004 est.)
Hong Kongmales age 15-49: 1,404,705 (2004 est.)
Hungarymales age 15-49: 2,011,750 (2004 est.)
Icelandmales age 15-49: 66,503 (2004 est.)
Indiamales age 15-49: 172,153,371 (2004 est.)
Indonesiamales age 15-49: 38,728,029 (2004 est.)
Iranmales age 15-49: 12,434,810 (2004 est.)
Iraqmales age 15-49: 3,654,947 (2004 est.)
Irelandmales age 15-49: 827,811 (2004 est.)
Israelmales age 15-49: 1,294,742females age 15-49: 1,250,969 (2004 est.)
Italymales age 15-49: 12,279,516 (2004 est.)
Jamaicamales age 15-49: 533,768 (2004 est.)
Japanmales age 15-49: 25,189,438 (2004 est.)
Jordanmales age 15-49: 1,153,385 (2004 est.)
Kazakhstanmales age 15-49: 3,381,606 (2004 est.)
Kenyamales age 15-49: 5,150,405 (2004 est.)
Korea, Northmales age 15-49: 3,694,855 (2004 est.)
Korea, Southmales age 15-49: 8,966,241 (2004 est.)
Kuwaitmales age 15-49: 531,556 (2004 est.)
Kyrgyzstanmales age 15-49: 1,091,548 (2004 est.)
Laosmales age 15-49: 783,800 (2004 est.)
Latviamales age 15-49: 466,659 (2004 est.)
Lebanonmales age 15-49: 643,050 (2004 est.)
Lesothomales age 15-49: 253,974 (2004 est.)
Liberiamales age 15-49: 406,293 (2004 est.)
Libyamales age 15-49: 938,196 (2004 est.)
Lithuaniamales age 15-49: 738,602 (2004 est.)
Luxembourgmales age 15-49: 95,107 (2004 est.)
Macaumales age 15-49: 68,913 (2004 est.)
Macedoniamales age 15-49: 448,095 (2004 est.)
Madagascarmales age 15-49: 2,373,342 (2004 est.)
Malawimales age 15-49: 1,381,607 (2004 est.)
Malaysiamales age 15-49: 3,746,960 (2004 est.)
Maldivesmales age 15-49: 45,142 (2004 est.)
Malimales age 15-49: 1,450,795 (2004 est.)
Maltamales age 15-49: 79,128 (2004 est.)
Mauritaniamales age 15-49: 332,633 (2004 est.)
Mauritiusmales age 15-49: 172,157 (2004 est.)
Mexicomales age 15-49: 19,755,614 (2004 est.)
Moldovamales age 15-49: 942,071 (2004 est.)
Mongoliamales age 15-49: 530,594 (2004 est.)
Moroccomales age 15-49: 5,529,267 (2004 est.)
Mozambiquemales age 15-49: 2,485,197 (2004 est.)
Namibiamales age 15-49: 279,755 (2004 est.)
Naurumales age 15-49: 1,810 (2004 est.)
Nepalmales age 15-49: 3,566,576 (2004 est.)
Netherlandsmales age 15-49: 3,534,392 (2004 est.)
Netherlands Antillesmales age 15-49: 31,025 (2004 est.)
New Zealandmales age 15-49: 868,984 (2004 est.)
Nicaraguamales age 15-49: 858,022 (2004 est.)
Nigermales age 15-49: 1,333,027 (2004 est.)
Nigeriamales age 15-49: 18,763,229 (2004 est.)
Norwaymales age 15-49: 916,155 (2004 est.)
Omanmales age 15-49: 443,006 (2004 est.)
Pakistanmales age 15-49: 24,355,985 (2004 est.)
Panamamales age 15-49: 553,422 (2004 est.)
Papua New Guineamales age 15-49: 775,064 (2004 est.)
Paraguaymales age 15-49: 1,084,087 (2004 est.)
Perumales age 15-49: 4,938,512 (2004 est.)
Philippinesmales age 15-49: 15,780,602 (2004 est.)
Polandmales age 15-49: 8,034,577 (2004 est.)
Portugalmales age 15-49: 2,107,502 (2004 est.)
Qatarmales age 15-49: 170,266 (2004 est.)
Reunionmales age 15-49: 103,073 (2004 est.)
Romaniamales age 15-49: 5,007,375 (2004 est.)
Russiamales age 15-49: 30,600,088 (2004 est.)
Rwandamales age 15-49: 1,004,296 (2004 est.)
Sao Tome and Principemales age 15-49: 20,188 (2004 est.)
Saudi Arabiamales age 15-49: 4,725,514 (2004 est.)
Senegalmales age 15-49: 1,301,761 (2004 est.)
Serbia and Montenegromales age 15-49: 2,184,937 (2004 est.)
Seychellesmales age 15-49: 11,712 (2004 est.)
Sierra Leonemales age 15-49: 614,338 (2004 est.)
Singaporemales age 15-49: 934,317 (2004 est.)
Slovakiamales age 15-49: 1,129,935 (2004 est.)
Sloveniamales age 15-49: 417,875 (2004 est.)
Somaliamales age 15-49: 1,109,405 (2004 est.)
South Africamales age 15-49: 7,247,696 (2004 est.)
Spainmales age 15-49: 8,336,273 (2004 est.)
Sri Lankamales age 15-49: 4,195,736 (2004 est.)
Sudanmales age 15-49: 5,743,783 (2004 est.)
Surinamemales age 15-49: 72,576 (2004 est.)
Swazilandmales age 15-49: 168,257 (2004 est.)
Swedenmales age 15-49: 1,821,394 (2004 est.)
Switzerlandmales age 15-49: 1,606,391 (2004 est.)
Syriamales age 15-49: 2,716,054 (2004 est.)
Taiwanmales age 15-49: 4,992,737 (2004 est.)
Tajikistanmales age 15-49: 1,444,325 (2004 est.)
Tanzaniamales age 15-49: 5,031,621 (2004 est.)
Thailandmales age 15-49: 10,735,354 (2004 est.)
Togomales age 15-49: 690,331 (2004 est.)
Trinidad and Tobagomales age 15-49: 232,234 (2004 est.)
Tunisiamales age 15-49: 1,655,910 (2004 est.)
Turkeymales age 15-49: 11,965,262 (2004 est.)
Turkmenistanmales age 15-49: 1,031,806 (2004 est.)
Ugandamales age 15-49: 3,085,053 (2004 est.)
Ukrainemales age 15-49: 9,565,088 (2004 est.)
United Arab Emiratesmales age 15-49: 412,490 (2004 est.)
United Kingdommales age 15-49: 12,393,785 (2004 est.)
United StatesNA (2004 est.)
Uruguaymales age 15-49: 677,315 (2004 est.)
Uzbekistanmales age 15-49: 5,783,740 (2004 est.)
Venezuelamales age 15-49: 4,953,803 (2004 est.)
Vietnammales age 15-49: 14,694,574 (2004 est.)
Yemenmales age 15-49: 2,590,720 (2004 est.)
Zambiamales age 15-49: 1,310,814 (2004 est.)
Zimbabwemales age 15-49: 2,033,978 (2004 est.)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@2026 Military manpower - reaching military age annually
Afghanistanmales: 263,406 (2004 est.)
Albaniamales: 36,584 (2004 est.)
Algeriamales: 373,235 (2004 est.)
Angolamales: 113,103 (2004 est.)
Argentinamales: 327,738 (2004 est.)
Armeniamales: 31,926 (2004 est.)
Australiamales: 140,182 (2004 est.)
Austriamales: 48,981 (2004 est.)
Azerbaijanmales: 83,131 (2004 est.)
Bahrainmales: 6,396 (2004 est.)
Belarusmales: 86,716 (2004 est.)
Belgiummales: 61,270 (2004 est.)
Belizemales: 3,122 (2004 est.)
Benin males: 77,552 females: 81,841 (2004 est.)
Bhutanmales: 23,379 (2004 est.)
Boliviamales: 98,155 (2004 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovinamales: 30,130 (2004 est.)
Botswanamales: 20,651 (2004 est.)
Brazilmales: 1,788,495 (2004 est.)
Bruneimales: 3,425 (2004 est.)
Bulgariamales: 52,811 (2004 est.)
Burmamales: 441,333females: 440,914 (2004 est.)
Burundimales: 81,862 (2004 est.)
Cambodiamales: 170,072 (2004 est.)
Cameroonmales: 184,054 (2004 est.)
Canadamales: 214,623 (2004 est.)
Chadmales: 91,231 (2004 est.)
Chilemales: 131,283 (2004 est.)
Chinamales: 12,494,201 (2004 est.)
Colombiamales: 392,656 (2004 est.)
Congo, Republic of themales: 31,964 (2004 est.)
Costa Ricamales: 41,709 (2004 est.)
Cote d'Ivoiremales: 204,434 (2004 est.)
Croatiamales: 30,639 (2004 est.)
Cubamales: 83,992females: 91,901 (2004 est.)
Cyprusmales: 6,614 (2004 est.)
Czech Republicmales: 67,195 (2004 est.)
Denmarkmales: 30,333 (2004 est.)
Dominican Republicmales: 90,434 (2004 est.)
East TimorNA (2004 est.)
Ecuadormales: 132,476 (2004 est.)
Egyptmales: 756,233 (2004 est.)
El Salvadormales: 69,993 (2004 est.)
Estoniamales: 10,884 (2004 est.)
Ethiopiamales: 760,868 (2004 est.)
Fijimales: 9,302 (2004 est.)
Finlandmales: 32,058 (2004 est.)
Francemales: 394,413 (2004 est.)
Gabonmales: 13,462 (2004 est.)
Georgiamales: 39,570 (2004 est.)
Germanymales: 484,837 (2004 est.)
Ghanamales: 244,809 (2004 est.)
Greecemales: 63,496 (2004 est.)
Guatemalamales: 156,865 (2004 est.)
Haitimales: 97,429 (2004 est.)
Hondurasmales: 76,143 (2004 est.)
Hong Kongmales: 41,821 (2004 est.)
Hungarymales: 64,426 (2004 est.)
Indiamales: 11,174,415 (2004 est.)
Indonesiamales: 2,196,424 (2004 est.)
Iranmales: 912,569 (2004 est.)
Iraqmales: 304,527 (2004 est.)
Irelandmales: 30,083 (2004 est.)
Israel males: 51,054 females: 53,515 (2004 est.)
Italymales: 285,601 (2004 est.)
Jamaicamales: 27,126 (2004 est.)
Japanmales: 700,931 (2004 est.)
Jordanmales: 59,471 (2004 est.)
Kazakhstanmales: 169,004 (2004 est.)
Korea, Northmales: 189,014 (2004 est.)
Korea, Southmales: 341,697 (2004 est.)
Kuwaitmales: 18,849 (2004 est.)
Kyrgyzstanmales: 59,759 (2004 est.)
Laosmales: 68,563 (2004 est.)
Latviamales: 19,209 (2004 est.)
Libyamales: 61,828 (2004 est.)
Lithuaniamales: 28,300 (2004 est.)
Luxembourgmales: 2,601 (2004 est.)
Macedoniamales: 17,595 (2004 est.)
Madagascarmales: 169,186 (2004 est.)
Malaysiamales: 223,466 (2004 est.)
Mexicomales: 1,055,368 (2004 est.)
Moldovamales: 44,466 (2004 est.)
Mongoliamales: 33,718 (2004 est.)
Moroccomales: 352,711 (2004 est.)
Nepalmales: 308,776 (2004 est.)
Netherlandsmales: 97,624 (2004 est.)
Netherlands Antillesmales: 1,660 (2004 est.)
New Zealandmales: 27,157 (2004 est.)
Nicaraguamales: 61,869 (2004 est.)
Nigermales: 122,363 (2004 est.)
Nigeriamales: 1,452,231 (2004 est.)
Norwaymales: 27,252 (2004 est.)
Omanmales: 31,274 (2004 est.)
Pakistanmales: 1,891,101 (2004 est.)
Paraguaymales: 63,386 (2004 est.)
Perumales: 277,931 (2004 est.)
Philippinesmales: 851,009 (2004 est.)
Polandmales: 329,743 (2004 est.)
Portugalmales: 72,821 (2004 est.)
Qatarmales: 7,496 (2004 est.)
Reunionmales: 7,070 (2004 est.)
Romaniamales: 163,577 (2004 est.)
Russiamales: 1,262,339 (2004 est.)
Saudi Arabiamales: 246,343 (2004 est.)
Senegalmales: 119,833 (2004 est.)
Serbia and Montenegromales: 81,245 (2004 est.)
Slovakiamales: 43,029 (2004 est.)
Sloveniamales: 13,315 (2004 est.)
South Africamales: 471,221 (2004 est.)
Spainmales: 245,007 (2004 est.)
Sri Lankamales: 179,869 (2004 est.)
Sudanmales: 442,242 (2004 est.)
Swedenmales: 56,859 (2004 est.)
Switzerlandmales: 45,654 (2004 est.)
Syriamales: 216,077 (2004 est.)
Taiwanmales: 182,677 (2004 est.)
Tajikistanmales: 86,761 (2004 est.)
Thailandmales: 531,511 (2004 est.)
Tunisiamales: 106,565 (2004 est.)
Turkeymales: 680,673 (2004 est.)
Turkmenistanmales: 55,866 (2004 est.)
Ukrainemales: 386,945 (2004 est.)
United Arab Emiratesmales: 29,183 (2004 est.)
United Statesmales: 2,124,164 (2004 est.)
Uzbekistanmales: 321,886 (2004 est.)
Venezuelamales: 250,730 (2004 est.)
Vietnammales: 853,197 (2004 est.)
Yemenmales: 255,426 (2004 est.)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@2028 Background
AfghanistanAfghanistan's recent history is a story of war and civilunrest. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979, but was forced to withdraw10 years later by anti-Communist mujahidin forces. The Communistregime in Kabul collapsed in 1992. Fighting that subsequentlyerupted among the various mujahidin factions eventually helped tospawn the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement thatfought to end the warlordism and civil war which gripped thecountry. The Taliban seized Kabul in 1996 and were able to capturemost of the country outside of Northern Alliance srongholdsprimarily in the northeast. Following the 11 September 2001terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and Northern Alliance militaryaction toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. In late2001, a conference in Bonn, Germany, established a process forpolitical reconstruction that ultimately resulted in the adoption ofa new constitution and presidential election in 2004. On 9 October2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected presidentof Afghanistan. The new Afghan government's next task is to holdNational Assembly elections, tentatively scheduled for April 2005.
AkrotiriBy terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that createdthe independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovreigntyand jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers intotal: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of theseis the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to asthe Western Sovereign Base Area.
AlbaniaBetween 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobicCommunist rule and established a multiparty democracy. Thetransition has proven difficult as successive governments have triedto deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidatedinfrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links to highgovernment officials, and disruptive political opponents.International observers judged parliamentary elections in 2001 andlocal elections in 2003 to be acceptable and a step towarddemocratic development, but identified serious deficiencies. Many ofthese deficiencies have been addressed through bi-partisan changesto the electoral code in 2003 and 2005, but implementation of thesechanges will not be demonstrated until parliamentary elections inJuly 2005.
AlgeriaAfter more than a century of rule by France, Algeriansfought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962.Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front(FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in thesubsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved tocounter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprisingfirst round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in theDecember 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene andpostpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secularelite feared would be an extremist-led government from assumingpower. The army began a crack down on the FIS that spurred FISsupporters to begin attacking government targets. The governmentlater allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderatereligious-based parties, but did not appease the activists whoprogressively widened their attacks. The fighting escalated into aninsurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-1998 and whichresulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminatemassacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained theupper hand by the late-1990s and FIS's armed wing, the IslamicSalvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. However, small numbers ofarmed militants persist in confronting government forces andconducting ambushes and occasional attacks on villages. The armyplaced Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999 in afraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslidereelection victory. A number of longstanding problems continue toface BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic minorityBerbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, ashortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies,government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing -although significantly degraded - activities of extremist militants.Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-based economy, which hasyielded a large cash reserve but which has not been used to redressAlgeria's many social and infrastructure problems. Algeria assumed atwo-year seat on the UN Security Council in January 2004.
American SamoaSettled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered"by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalriesin the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago.The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of easternislands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
AndorraFor 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under aunique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop ofUrgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titularheads of state retained, but the government transformed into aparliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainousAndorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II throughits tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) areattracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.
AngolaAngola has begun to enjoy the fruits of peace since the endof a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the PopularMovement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose EduardoDOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence ofAngola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence fromPortugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola heldnational elections, but UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten bythe MPLA at the polls. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost -and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting.SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthenedthe MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS has pledged to hold nationalelections in 2006.
AnguillaColonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650,Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19thcentury, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants -was incorporated into a single British dependency, along with SaintKitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, twoyears after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; thisarrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becominga separate British dependency.
AntarcticaSpeculation over the existence of a "southern land" wasnot confirmed until the early 1820s when British and Americancommercial operators and British and Russian national expeditionsbegan exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas southof the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established thatAntarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20thcentury. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientificresearch on the continent. A number of countries have set upyear-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have madeterritorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. Inorder to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on thecontinent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither deniesnor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in1959, it entered into force in 1961.
Antigua and BarbudaThe Siboney were the first to inhabit theislands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and CaribIndians populated the islands when Columbus landed on his secondvoyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French weresucceeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery,established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolishedin 1834. The islands became an independent state within the BritishCommonwealth of Nations in 1981.
Arctic OceanThe Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's fiveoceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, andthe recently delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (USand Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are twoimportant seasonal waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river,and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.
ArgentinaFollowing independence from Spain in 1816, Argentinaexperienced periods of internal political conflict betweenconservatives and liberals and between civilian and militaryfactions. After World War II, a long period of Peronistauthoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments wasfollowed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracyreturned in 1983, and numerous elections since then have underscoredArgentina's progress in democratic consolidation.
ArmeniaArmenia prides itself on being the first nation to formallyadopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy,over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empiresincluding the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It wasincorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenianleaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with MuslimAzerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populatedregion, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow.Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; thestruggle escalated after both countries attained independence fromthe Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold,Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also asignificant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of bothsides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progresstoward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade onArmenia and closed the common border because of the Armenianoccupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
ArubaDiscovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquiredby the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated bythree main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed byprosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. Thelast decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry.Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became aseparate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in1990.
Ashmore and Cartier IslandsThese uninhabited islands came underAustralian authority in 1931; formal administration began two yearslater. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marinehabitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. CartierIsland, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve.
Atlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of theworld's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than theIndian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal(Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait ofGibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US)are important strategic access waterways. The decision by theInternational Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 todelimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portionof the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south.
AustraliaAboriginal settlers arrived on the continent fromSoutheast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans beganexploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims weremade until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the nameof Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth ofAustralia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its naturalresources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturingindustries and to make a major contribution to the British effort inWorld Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformeditself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy.Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of theozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas,especially the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to changeAustralia's status, from a commonwealth headed by the Britishmonarch to a republic, was defeated in 1999.
AustriaOnce the center of power for the large Austro-HungarianEmpire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat inWorld War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 andsubsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria'sstatus remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbadeunification with Germany. A constitutional law that same yeardeclared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition forSoviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, someAustrian's have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous,democratic country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in1999.
AzerbaijanAzerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslimpopulation - regained its independence after the collapse of theSoviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yetto resolve its conflict with Armenia over the AzerbaijaniNagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijanhas lost 16% of its territory and must support some 800,000 refugeesand internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict.Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth fromAzerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largelyunfulfilled.
Bahamas, TheArawak Indians inhabited the islands when ChristopherColumbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492.British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands becamea colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973,The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international bankingand investment management. Because of its geography, the country isa major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularlyshipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegalmigrants into the US.
BahrainBahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulfcountries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreignaffairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves,Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and hastransformed itself into an international banking center. The newamir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reformsand has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. InFebruary 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the NationalAction Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's politicalliberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa AlKhalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis electedmembers of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicamerallegislature, the National Assembly.
Baker IslandThe US took possession of the island in 1857, and itsguano deposits were mined by US and British companies during thesecond half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt atcolonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby HowlandIsland - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned.Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the USDepartment of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middleof the west coast.
BangladeshBangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali EastPakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third ofthis extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainyseason, hampering economic development.
BarbadosThe island was uninhabited when first settled by theBritish in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established onthe island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economyremained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses productionthrough most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of socialand political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to completeindependence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism andmanufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.
Bassas da IndiaThis atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefsand is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it wasplaced under the administration of a commissioner residing inReunion in 1968.
BelarusAfter seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR,Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closerpolitical and economic ties to Russia than any of the other formerSoviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-stateunion on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economicintegration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out theaccord, serious implementation has yet to take place.
BelgiumBelgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 andwas occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prosperedin the past half century as a modern, technologically advancedEuropean state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between theDutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speakingWalloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutionalamendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
BelizeTerritorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed theindependence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourismhas become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plaguedby high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drugtrade, and increased urban crime.
BeninPresent day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent WestAfrican kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory becamea French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960,as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments endedin 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and theestablishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles.A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later,free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO aspresident, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africafrom a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power byelections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities werealleged.
BermudaBermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked Englishcolonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape NorthAmerican winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourismcontinues to be important to the island's economy, althoughinternational business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda hasdeveloped into a highly successful offshore financial center. Areferendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
BhutanIn 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu,under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange forceding some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was setup in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby theBritish agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs andBhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role wasassumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formalIndo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by theBritish, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, anddefined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Arefugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved;90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of theHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps.
BoliviaBolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR,broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent historyhas consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups.Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, butleaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, socialunrest, and drug production. Current goals include attractingforeign investment, strengthening the educational system, resolvingdisputes with coca growers over Bolivia's counterdrug efforts, andwaging an anticorruption campaign.
Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina's declaration ofsovereignty in October 1991, was followed by a declaration ofindependence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after areferendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supportedby neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armedresistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines andjoining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994,Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions fromthree to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/CroatFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, inDayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement thatbrought to a halt three years of interethnic civil strife (the finalagreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The DaytonAgreement retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundariesand created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. Thisnational government was charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic,and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of governmentcomprised of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/CroatFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-ledRepublika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments werecharged with overseeing most government functions. The Office of theHigh Representative (OHR) was established to oversee theimplementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. In 1995-96,a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troopsserved in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects ofthe agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-ledStabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission was to deter renewedhostilities. European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replacedSFOR in December 2004; their mission was to maintain peace andstability throughout the country.
BotswanaFormerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswanaadopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades ofuninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, andsignificant capital investment have created one of the most dynamiceconomies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining,dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector dueto the country's conservation practices and extensive naturepreserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates ofHIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive andcomprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Bouvet IslandThis uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirelycovered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discoveredin 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named.No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupiedthe island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and theadjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on theisland.
BrazilFollowing three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazilbecame an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and mostpopulous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half acentury of military intervention in the governance of the countrywhen in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilianrulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agriculturalgrowth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast naturalresources and a large labor pool, it is today South America'sleading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal incomedistribution remains a pressing problem.
British Indian Ocean TerritoryEstablished as a territory of the UKin 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attainedindependence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of thesix main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. Thelargest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains ajoint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands areuninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in theislands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to theSeychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Courtruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excludedthem from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status ofDiego Garcia.
British Virgin IslandsFirst settled by the Dutch in 1648, theislands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closelytied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west;the US dollar is the legal currency.
BruneiThe Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15thand 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas ofnorthwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequentlyentered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royalsuccession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence wasachieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over sixcenturies. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gasfields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in thedeveloping world.
BulgariaThe Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with thelocal Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the firstBulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled withthe Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by theend of the 14th century the country was overrun by the OttomanTurks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all ofBulgaria became independent in 1908. Having fought on the losingside in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere ofinfluence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communistdomination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multipartyelection since World War II and began the contentious process ofmoving toward political democracy and a market economy whilecombating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today,reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventualintegration into the EU. The country joined NATO in 2004.
Burkina FasoBurkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achievedindependence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early1990s. Burkina Faso's high population density and limited naturalresources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of itscitizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana hashindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabefarm workers to find employment in neighboring countries.
BurmaBritain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886)and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administeredas a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate,self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth wasattained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, andlater as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative electionsin 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the NationalLeague for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the rulingjunta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prizerecipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and is currentlyunder house arrest. In December 2004, the junta announced it wasextending her detention for at least an additional year. Hersupporters, as well as all those who promote democracy and improvedhuman rights, are routinely harassed or jailed.
BurundiBurundi's first democratically elected president wasassassinated in October 1993 after only one hundred days in office.Since then, some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread,often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions.Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced or have becomerefugees in neighboring countries. Burundi troops, seeking to securetheir borders, briefly intervened in the conflict in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo in 1998. A new transitional government,inaugurated on 1 November 2001, signed a power-sharing agreementwith the largest rebel faction in December 2003 and set in place aprovisional constitution in October 2004. Implementation of theagreement has been problematic, however, as one remaining rebelgroup refuses to sign on and elections have been repeatedly delayed,clouding prospects for a sustainable peace.
CambodiaMost Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, whoseAngkor Empire extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached itszenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Subsequently, attacks bythe Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empireushering in a long period of decline. In 1863, the king of Cambodiaplaced the country under French protection; it became part of FrenchIndochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II,Cambodia became independent within the French Union in 1949 andfully independent in 1953. After a five-year struggle, CommunistKhmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in April 1975 and ordered theevacuation of all cities and towns; at least 1.5 million Cambodiansdied from execution, enforced hardships, or starvation during theKhmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnameseinvasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, led to a10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years ofcivil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democraticelections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by theKhmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore somesemblance of normalcy and the final elements of the Khmer Rougesurrendered in early 1999. Factional fighting in 1997 ended thefirst coalition government, but a second round of national electionsin 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government andrenewed political stability. The July 2003 elections were relativelypeaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contendingpolitical parties before a coalition government was formed.Nation-wide local elections are scheduled for 2007 and nationalelections for 2008.
CameroonThe former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroonmerged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generallyenjoyed stability, which has permitted the development ofagriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry.Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remainsfirmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
CanadaA land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canadabecame a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to theBritish crown. Economically and technologically the nation hasdeveloped in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south acrossan unfortified border. Canada's paramount political problem ismeeting public demands for quality improvements in health care andeducation services after a decade of budget cuts. The issue ofreconciling Quebec's francophone heritage with the majorityanglophone Canadian population has moved to the back burner inrecent years; support for separatism abated after the Quebecgovernment's referendum on independence failed to pass in October of1995.
Cape VerdeThe uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized bythe Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became atrading center for African slaves and later an important coaling andresupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Followingindependence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification withGuinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintaineduntil multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continuesto exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments.Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century causedsignificant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result,Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
Cayman IslandsThe Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by theBritish during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaicasince 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when theformer became independent.
Central African RepublicThe former French colony of Ubangi-Sharibecame the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. Afterthree tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments- civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade.President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued byunrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led byGeneral Francois BOZIZE, who has since established a transitionalgovernment. Though the government has the tacit support of civilsociety groups and the main parties, a wide field of affiliated andindependent candidates will contest the municipal, legislative, andpresidential elections scheduled for February 2005. The governmentstill does not fully control the countryside, where pockets oflawlessness persist.
ChadChad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, enduredthree decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya beforea semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The governmenteventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-militarygroups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorableto Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multipartypresidential elections in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, a new rebellionbroke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite twopeace agreements signed in 2002 and 2003 between the government andthe rebels. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remainsin the hands of a northern ethnic oligarchy.
ChileA three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 bya dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruleduntil a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Soundeconomic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, havecontributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country'scommitment to democratic and representative government. Chile hasincreasingly assumed regional and international leadership rolesbefitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.
ChinaFor centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacingthe rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th andearly 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, majorfamines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World WarII, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocraticsocialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposedstrict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens ofmillions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping andother leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, livingstandards have improved dramatically and the room for personalchoice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.
Christmas IslandNamed in 1643 for the day of its discovery, theisland was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888.Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereigntyto Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has beendeclared a national park.
Clipperton IslandThis isolated island was named for JohnCLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18thcentury. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897.Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which tookpossession in 1935.
Cocos (Keeling) IslandsThere are 27 coral islands in the group.Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but theyremained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955.The population on the two inhabited islands generally is splitbetween the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays onHome Island.
ColombiaColombia was one of the three countries that emerged fromthe collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador andVenezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the ColombianGovernment escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by fundsfrom the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and largeswaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, themovement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary tooverthrow the government. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitarieshas grown to be several thousand strong in recent years, challengingthe insurgents for control of territory and the drug trade, and alsothe government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas.While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert government controlthroughout the country, neighboring countries worry about theviolence spilling over their borders.
ComorosUnstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coupssince gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islandsof Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolvethe secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a newconstitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and anew union president was sworn in on 26 May 2002.
Congo, Democratic Republic of theSince 1997, the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo (DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent byethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow in 1994of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. The governmentof former president MOBUTU Sese Seko was toppled by a rebellion ledby Laurent KABILA in May 1997; his regime was subsequentlychallenged by a Rwanda- and Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998.Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened tosupport the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999by the DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, andCongolese armed rebel groups, but sporadic fighting continued.KABILA was assassinated on 16 January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILAwas named head of state ten days later. In October 2002, the newpresident was successful in getting occupying Rwandan forces towithdraw from eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accordwas signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting andset up a government of national unity. A transitional government wasset up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA remains as president and isjoined by four vice presidents from the former government, formerrebel camps, and the political opposition.
Congo, Republic of theUpon independence in 1960, the former Frenchregion of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quartercentury of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and ademocratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civilwar in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, butushered in a period of ethnic unrest. Southern-based rebel groupsagreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of Congois one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with significantpotential for offshore development.
Cook IslandsNamed after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, theislands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900,administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965residents chose self-government in free association with NewZealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand andgovernment deficits are continuing problems.
Coral Sea IslandsScattered over some 1 million square kilometers ofocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australiain 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorologicalstaff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, anda lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.
Costa RicaCosta Rica is a Central American success story: since thelate 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marredits democratic development. Although still a largely agriculturalcountry, it has expanded its economy to include strong technologyand tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Landownership is widespread.
Cote d'IvoireClose ties to France since independence in 1960, thedevelopment of cocoa production for export, and foreign investmentmade Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropicalAfrican states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire'shistory - overthrew the government led by President Henri KonanBEDIE. Junta leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, butexcluded prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantlyrigged the polling results, and declared himself winner. Popularprotest forced GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up LaurentGBAGBO into power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of themilitary launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebelforces claimed the northern half of the country and in January 2003were granted ministerial positions in a unity government under theauspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO andrebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked thecivil war, such as land reform and grounds for nationality remainunresolved. The central government has yet to exert control over thenorthern regions and tensions remain high between GBAGBO and rebelleaders. Several thousand French and West African troops remain inCote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and facilitate the disarmament,demobilization, and rehabilitation process.