"text":"The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842, and took official control of them between 1886 and 1888. Notably, Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, a phase that ended in May of 1942 with the arrival of 2,000 American troops. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed this status in July 1961."
}
},
"Geography":{
"Location":{
"text":"Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand"
},
"Geographic coordinates":{
"text":"13 18 S, 176 12 W"
},
"Map references":{
"text":"Oceania"
},
"Area":{
"total":{
"text":"142 sq km"
},
"land":{
"text":"142 sq km"
},
"water":{
"text":"0 sq km"
},
"note":{
"text":"includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets"
"text":"tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius"
"text":"deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural freshwater resources"
"text":"Wallis Island is named after British Captain Samuel WALLIS who discovered it in 1767; Futuna is derived from the native word \"futu,\" which is the name of the fish-poison tree found on the island"
"text":"President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by High Administrator Marcel RENOUF (since 26 January 2015)"
},
"head of government":{
"text":"President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele KULIMOETOKE (since 26 November 2014)"
},
"cabinet":{
"text":"Council of the Territory appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly"
},
"elections/appointments":{
"text":"French president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high administrator appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly elected by assembly members"
},
"note":{
"text":"there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers"
}
},
"Legislative branch":{
"description":{
"text":"unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation to serve 5-year terms)"
"text":"Wallis and Futuna elects 1 senator to the French Senate and 1 deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held by September 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1; French National Assembly - by-election last held on 24 March 2013 (next to be held by 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - independent (backed by UMP) 1"
"text":"Court of Assizes or Cour d'Assizes (consists of 1 judge; court hears primarily serious criminal cases); note - appeals beyond the Court of Assizes are heard before the Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel, located in Noumea, New Caledonia"
"text":"courts of first instance; labor court; note - justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the 3 traditional kings administer customary law, and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu"
"text":"Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) ++ Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG ++ Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU] ++ Socialist Party or PS ++ Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA] ++ Union Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA] ++ Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF"
},
"Political pressure groups and leaders":{
"text":"NA"
},
"International organization participation":{
"text":"PIF (observer), SPC, UPU"
},
"Diplomatic representation in the US":{
"text":"none (overseas territory of France)"
},
"Diplomatic representation from the US":{
"text":"none (overseas territory of France)"
},
"Flag description":{
"text":"unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant",
"note":{
"text":"the design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries; the flag of France is used for official occasions"
}
},
"National symbol(s)":{
"text":"red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field; national colors: red, white"
},
"National anthem":{
"note":{
"text":"as a territory of France, \"La Marseillaise\" is official (see France)"
"text":"The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with 80% of labor force earnings coming from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. However, roughly 70% of the labor force is employed in the public sector, although only about 20% of the population is in salaried employment. ++ ++ Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. France directly finances the public sector and healthcare and education services. It also provides funding for key development projects in a range of areas, including infrastructure, economic development, environmental management, and healthcare facilities. ++ ++ A key concern for Wallis and Futuna is an aging population with consequent economic development issues. Very few people aged 18-30 live on the islands due to the limited formal employment opportunities. Improving job creation is a current priority for the territorial government."
"text":"offical data; data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions"
"text":"the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2008)"
