diff --git a/africa/ao.json b/africa/ao.json index e8771f31..f11fb1d1 100644 --- a/africa/ao.json +++ b/africa/ao.json @@ -1159,7 +1159,10 @@ }, "Roadways": { "total": { - "text": "76,000 km (2020)" + "text": "76,000 km" + }, + "paved": { + "text": "13,680 km (2020)" } }, "Waterways": { @@ -1167,10 +1170,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "58 (2022)" + "text": "64 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 37" + "text": "general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 43" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/bn.json b/africa/bn.json index 04000821..7d37534c 100644 --- a/africa/bn.json +++ b/africa/bn.json @@ -1159,10 +1159,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "7 (2022)" + "text": "6 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "other 7" + "text": "other 6" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/cd.json b/africa/cd.json index d2b8519f..3f139df9 100644 --- a/africa/cd.json +++ b/africa/cd.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "

Chad emerged from a collection of powerful states that controlled the Sahelian belt starting around the 9th century. These states focused on controlling trans-Saharan trade routes and profited mostly from the slave trade. The Kanem-Bornu Empire, centered around the Lake Chad Basin, existed between the 9th and 19th centuries, and during its peak, the empire controlled territory stretching from southern Chad to southern Libya and included portions of modern-day Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger, and Sudan. The Sudanese warlord Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR used an army comprised largely of slaves to conquer the Kanem-Bornu Empire in the late 19th century. In southeastern Chad, the Bagirmi and Ouaddai (Wadai) kingdoms emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries and lasted until the arrival of the French in the 19th and 20th centuries. France began moving into the region in the late 1880s and defeated the Bagirmi kingdom in 1897, Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR in 1900, and the Ouddai kingdom in 1909. In the arid regions of northern Chad and southern Libya, an Islamic order called the Sanusiyya (Sanusi) relied heavily on the trans-Saharan slave trade and had upwards of 3 million followers by the 1880s. The French arrived in the region in the early 1900s and defeated the Sanusiyya in 1910 after years of intermittent war. By 1910, France had incorporated the northern arid region, the Lake Chad Basin, and southeastern Chad into French Equatorial Africa.  

Chad achieved its independence in 1960 and saw three decades of instability, oppressive rule, civil war, and a Libyan invasion. With the help of the French military and several African countries, Chadian leaders expelled Libyan forces during the 1987 \"Toyota War,\" so named for the use of Toyota pickup trucks as fighting vehicles. In 1990, Chadian general Idriss DEBY led a rebellion against President Hissene HABRE. Under DEBY, Chad drafted and approved a constitution and held elections in 1996. DEBY led the country until April 2021 when he was killed during a rebel incursion. Shortly after his death, a group of military officials - led by former President DEBY’s son, Mahamat Idriss DEBY - took control of the government. The military officials dismissed the National Assembly, suspended the Constitution, and formed a Transitional Military Council while pledging to hold democratic elections in October 2022.

Chad faces widespread poverty, an economy severely weakened by low international oil prices, and rebel and terrorist-led insurgencies in the Lake Chad Basin. Additionally, northern Chad has seen several waves of rebellions since 1998. In late 2015, the government imposed a state of emergency in the Lake Chad Basin following multiple attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram, now known as ISIS-West Africa. In mid-2015, Boko Haram conducted bombings in N'Djamena. In late 2019, the Chadian government also declared a state of emergency in the Sila and Ouaddai regions bordering Sudan and in the Tibesti region bordering Niger where rival ethnic groups are still fighting. The army has suffered heavy losses to Islamic terror groups in the Lake Chad Basin. In March 2020, Islamic militants attacked a Chadian military camp in the Lake Chad Basin and killed nearly 100 soldiers; it was the deadliest attack in the history of the Chadian military.

" + "text": "

Chad emerged from a collection of powerful states that controlled the Sahelian belt starting around the 9th century. These states focused on controlling trans-Saharan trade routes and profited mostly from the slave trade. The Kanem-Bornu Empire, centered around the Lake Chad Basin, existed between the 9th and 19th centuries, and during its peak, the empire controlled territory stretching from southern Chad to southern Libya and included portions of modern-day Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger, and Sudan. The Sudanese warlord Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR used an army comprised largely of slaves to conquer the Kanem-Bornu Empire in the late 19th century. In southeastern Chad, the Bagirmi and Ouaddai (Wadai) kingdoms emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries and lasted until the arrival of the French in the 19th and 20th centuries. France began moving into the region in the late 1880s and defeated the Bagirmi kingdom in 1897, Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR in 1900, and the Ouddai kingdom in 1909. In the arid regions of northern Chad and southern Libya, an Islamic order called the Sanusiyya (Sanusi) relied heavily on the trans-Saharan slave trade and had upwards of 3 million followers by the 1880s. The French arrived in the region in the early 1900s and defeated the Sanusiyya in 1910 after years of intermittent war. By 1910, France had incorporated the northern arid region, the Lake Chad Basin, and southeastern Chad into French Equatorial Africa.  

Chad achieved its independence in 1960 and saw three decades of instability, oppressive rule, civil war, and a Libyan invasion. With the help of the French military and several African countries, Chadian leaders expelled Libyan forces during the 1987 \"Toyota War,\" so named for the use of Toyota pickup trucks as fighting vehicles. In 1990, Chadian general Idriss DEBY led a rebellion against President Hissene HABRE. Under DEBY, Chad drafted and approved a constitution and held elections in 1996. DEBY led the country until April 2021 when he was killed during a rebel incursion. Shortly after his death, a group of military officials - led by former President DEBY’s son, Mahamat Idriss DEBY - took control of the government. The military officials dismissed the National Assembly, suspended the Constitution, and formed a Transitional Military Council (TMC) while pledging to hold democratic elections by October 2022. A national dialogue in August-October 2022 culminated in decisions to extend the transition for up to two years, dissolve the TMC, and appoint Mahamat DEBY as Transitional President; The transitional authorities held a constitutional referendum in December 2023 and claimed 86 percent of votes were in favor of the new constitution. The transitional authorities announced plans to hold elections by October 2024.

Chad has faced widespread poverty, an economy severely weakened by volatile international oil prices, terrorist-led insurgencies in the Lake Chad Basin, and several waves of rebellions in northern and eastern Chad. In late 2015, the government imposed a state of emergency in the Lake Chad Basin following multiple attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram, now known as ISIS-West Africa. In mid-2015, Boko Haram conducted bombings in N'Djamena. In late 2019, the Chadian government also declared a state of emergency in the Sila and Ouaddai regions bordering Sudan and in the Tibesti region bordering Niger where rival ethnic groups are still fighting. The army has suffered heavy losses to Islamic terror groups in the Lake Chad Basin. 

" } }, "Geography": { @@ -570,19 +570,19 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY (since 20 April 2021); note - on 20 April 2021, newly reelected President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen., died of injuries sustained following clashes between government forces he was commanding and insurgents in the northern part of the country; following his death, Mahamat Idriss DEBY took control of the country and dismissed the Chadian parliament, establishing a Transitional Military Council and promising elections within 18 months, but later postponed elections until 31 October 2024" + "text": "Transitional President Mahamat Idriss DEBY (since 20 April 2021); note - on 20 April 2021, newly reelected President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen., died of injuries sustained following clashes between government forces he was commanding and insurgents in the northern part of the country; following his death, Mahamat Idriss DEBY took control of the country and dismissed the Chadian parliament, establishing a Transitional Military Council (TMC) and promising elections within 18 months; the transition was extended for 24 months and the TMC was dissolved in October 2022, postponing elections until 31 October 2024" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Interim Prime Minister Succès MASRA (since 1 January 2024)" + "text": "Prime Minister Succès MASRA (since 1 January 2024)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 11 April 2021; note - on 20 April 2021, military officials suspended the constitution and formed a Transitional Military Council, pledging to hold democratic elections in October 2022, but have since delayed elections until 31 October 2024" + "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 11 April 2021; note - on 20 April 2021, military officials suspended the constitution and formed a Transitional Military Council, pledging to hold democratic elections by October 2022 but have since delayed elections until 31 October 2024" }, "election results": { - "text": "
2021: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (MPS) 79.3%, Pahimi PADACKET Albert (RNDT) 10.3%, Lydie BEASSEMDA (Party for Democracy and Independence) 3.2%, other 7.2%

2016: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (MPS) 61.6%, Saleh KEBZABO (UNDR) 12.8%, Laokein Kourayo MEDAR (CTPD) 10.7%, Djimrangar DADNADJI (CAP-SUR) 5.1%, other 9.8%" + "text": "
2021: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected transitional president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (MPS) 79.3%, Pahimi PADACKET Albert (RNDT) 10.3%, Lydie BEASSEMDA (Party for Democracy and Independence) 3.2%, other 7.2%

2016: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (MPS) 61.6%, Saleh KEBZABO (UNDR) 12.8%, Laokein Kourayo MEDAR (CTPD) 10.7%, Djimrangar DADNADJI (CAP-SUR) 5.1%, other 9.8%" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Chadian Convention for Peace and Development or CTPD [Laoukein Kourayo MEDARD]
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR]
National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP [Dr. Nouradine Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]
National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]
Party for Unity and Reconstruction or PUR
Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [formerly Idriss DEBY] 
Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Mahamat Allahou TAHER]
Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening or RNDT/Le Reveil [Albert Pahimi PADACKE]
Social Democratic Party for a Change-over of Power or PDSA [Malloum YOBODA]
Union for Democracy and the Republic or UDR
Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Felix Romadoumngar NIALBE]
 
note 1: 19 additional parties each contributed one member
note 2: only parties with at least two seats in the last elected National Assembly (February 2011) included", + "text": "Chadian Convention for Peace and Development or CTPD [Laoukein Kourayo MEDARD]
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR]
National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP [Dr. Nouradine Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]
National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]
Party for Unity and Reconstruction or PUR
Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [formerly Idriss DEBY] 
Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Mahamat Allahou TAHER]
Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening or RNDT/Le Reveil [Albert Pahimi PADACKE]
Social Democratic Party for a Change-over of Power or PDSA [Malloum YOBODA]
Union for Democracy and the Republic or UDR
Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Felix Romadoumngar NIALBE]
Transformers [Succès MASRA]
 
note 1: 19 additional parties each contributed one member
note 2: only parties with at least two seats in the last elected National Assembly (February 2011) included", "note": "note: on 5 October 2021, Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY appointed 93 members to the interim National Transitional Council (NTC); 30% of the NTC members were retained from parties previously represented in the National Assembly" }, "International organization participation": { @@ -1181,7 +1181,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "418,187 (Sudan) (includes refugees since 15 April 2023), 130,044 (Central African Republic), 26,692 (Cameroon), 21,381 (Nigeria) (2023)" + "text": "418,187 (Sudan) (includes refugees since 15 April 2023), 26,692 (Cameroon) (2023); 133,495 (Central African Republic), 21,380 (Nigeria) (2024)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "215,918 (majority are in the east) (2023)" diff --git a/africa/cf.json b/africa/cf.json index fbb087f8..6980cfdc 100644 --- a/africa/cf.json +++ b/africa/cf.json @@ -1181,10 +1181,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "11 (2022)" + "text": "11 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 9" + "text": "oil tanker 1, other 10" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/cg.json b/africa/cg.json index 88435d8d..82e0ea11 100644 --- a/africa/cg.json +++ b/africa/cg.json @@ -1207,10 +1207,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "23 (2022)" + "text": "24 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 16" + "text": "general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 17" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/cm.json b/africa/cm.json index 446d4b3f..4e2b341d 100644 --- a/africa/cm.json +++ b/africa/cm.json @@ -1205,10 +1205,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "121 (2022)" + "text": "198 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 2, general cargo 45, oil tanker 33, other 41" + "text": "bulk carrier 2, general cargo 91, oil tanker 42, other 63" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/cn.json b/africa/cn.json index 6e7018aa..2cd03e2a 100644 --- a/africa/cn.json +++ b/africa/cn.json @@ -1052,10 +1052,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "248 (2022)" + "text": "273 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 10, container ship 6, general cargo 108, oil tanker 38, other 86" + "text": "bulk carrier 17, container ship 7, general cargo 125, oil tanker 36, other 88" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/cv.json b/africa/cv.json index 6eb90617..a8913bc0 100644 --- a/africa/cv.json +++ b/africa/cv.json @@ -1092,10 +1092,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "47 (2022)" + "text": "44 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 16, oil tanker 3, other 28" + "text": "general cargo 14, oil tanker 2, other 28" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/dj.json b/africa/dj.json index 19b8058f..a8fc567d 100644 --- a/africa/dj.json +++ b/africa/dj.json @@ -1102,10 +1102,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "42 (2022)" + "text": "40 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 15, other 21" + "text": "bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 13, other 21" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/eg.json b/africa/eg.json index 18b93684..150ec96e 100644 --- a/africa/eg.json +++ b/africa/eg.json @@ -1222,10 +1222,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "436 (2022)" + "text": "441 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 15, container ship 6, general cargo 27, oil tanker 41, other 347" + "text": "bulk carrier 14, container ship 6, general cargo 23, oil tanker 42, other 356" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/ek.json b/africa/ek.json index acb6f549..68898cca 100644 --- a/africa/ek.json +++ b/africa/ek.json @@ -1060,10 +1060,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "46 (2022)" + "text": "53 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 1, general cargo 12, oil tanker 7, other 26" + "text": "bulk carrier 1, general cargo 16, oil tanker 7, other 29" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1077,7 +1077,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial, FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, GNGE (Army)), Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie (Guardia Civil) (2023)", + "text": "Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial, FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, GNGE (Army)), Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie (Guardia Civil) (2024)", "note": "note: police report to the Ministry of National Security, while gendarmes report to the Ministry of National Defense; police generally are responsible for maintaining law and order in the cities, while gendarmes are responsible for security outside cities and for special events; military personnel also fulfill some police functions in border areas, sensitive sites, and high-traffic areas" }, "Military expenditures": { diff --git a/africa/er.json b/africa/er.json index ad72246e..11b88062 100644 --- a/africa/er.json +++ b/africa/er.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "

After independence from Italian colonial control in 1941 and 10 years of British administrative control, the UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year conflict for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean fighters defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been characterized by highly autocratic and repressive actions. His government has created a highly militarized society by instituting an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service – divided between military and civilian service – of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. A subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation was rejected by Ethiopia. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 after the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC’s 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Following the July 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia, Eritrean leaders engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In November 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for al-Shabaab. The country’s rapprochement with Ethiopia led to a resumption of economic ties, with increased air transport, trade, tourism, and port activities, until late 2020, but the economy remains agriculture-dependent, and Eritrea is still one of Africa’s poorest nations. Eritrea faced new international condemnation and US sanctions in mid-2021 for its participation in the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional State, where Eritrean forces were found to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. As most Eritrean troops were departing northern Ethiopia in January 2023, ISAIAS began a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at bolstering Eritrea’s foreign partnerships and regional influence. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression and conscription and militarization continue.

" + "text": "

After independence from Italian colonial control in 1941 and 10 years of British administrative control, the UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year conflict for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean fighters defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been characterized by highly autocratic and repressive actions. His government has created a highly militarized society by instituting an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service – divided between military and civilian service – of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. A subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation was rejected by Ethiopia. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 after the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC’s 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Following the July 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia, Eritrean leaders engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In November 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for al-Shabaab. The country’s rapprochement with Ethiopia led to a resumption of economic ties, but the level of air transport, trade, and tourism have remained roughly the same since late 2020. The Eritrean economy remains agriculture-dependent, and the country is still one of Africa’s poorest nations. Eritrea faced new international condemnation and US sanctions in mid-2021 for its participation in the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional State, where Eritrean forces were found to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. As most Eritrean troops were departing northern Ethiopia in January 2023, ISAIAS began a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at bolstering Eritrea’s foreign partnerships and regional influence. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression and conscription and militarization continue.

" } }, "Geography": { @@ -1090,7 +1090,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "9 (2022)" + "text": "9 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 4" diff --git a/africa/et.json b/africa/et.json index 26e1e606..81aa05a7 100644 --- a/africa/et.json +++ b/africa/et.json @@ -1200,12 +1200,12 @@ }, "Roadways": { "total": { - "text": "120,171 km (2018)" + "text": "180,000 km (2023)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "12 (2022)" + "text": "12 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 10, oil tanker 2" @@ -1250,7 +1250,7 @@ "text": "approximately 5-8,000 in Somalia (up to 4,000 for ATMIS; the remainder under a bilateral agreement with the Somali Government; note - foreign troop contingents in Somalia under ATMIS are drawing down towards a final withdrawal in December 2024); 1,450 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2023)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the ENDF has traditionally been one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest, most experienced, and best equipped militaries, but it suffered heavy casualties and equipment losses during the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict; the Ground Forces are estimated to have more than 20 infantry divisions, including several that are mechanized, along with at least one division of commandos/special forces; the Air Force has combat squadrons of multipurpose fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, and armed unmanned aerial vehicles; ENDF operations are often supported by sizeable regional state paramilitary units 

the ENDF is focused on both external threats emanating from its neighbors and internal threats from multiple internal armed groups; since 1998, the ENDF has engaged in several conventional and counterinsurgency operations, including border wars with Eritrea (1998-2000) and Somalia (2006-2008) and internal conflicts with the Tigray regional state (2020-2022), several insurgent groups and ethnic militias (including the ethnonationalist Amhara Fano), and the al-Shabaab terrorist group (see Appendix T); the ENDF is currently conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-government militants in several states, including in Oromya (Oromia) against the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an insurgent group that claims to be fighting for greater autonomy for the Oromo, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group; in 2022, militants from the Somalia-based al-Shabaab terrorist group launched an incursion into Ethiopia's Somali (Sumale) regional state, attacking villages and security forces; the Ethiopian Government claimed that regional security forces killed hundreds of al-Shabaab fighters and subsequently deployed additional ENDF troops into Somalia’s Gedo region to prevent further incursions (2023)" + "text": "the ENDF has traditionally been one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest, most experienced, and best equipped militaries, but it suffered heavy casualties and equipment losses during the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict; the Ground Forces are estimated to have more than 20 infantry divisions, including several that are mechanized, along with at least one division of commandos/special forces; the Air Force has combat squadrons of multipurpose fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, and armed unmanned aerial vehicles; ENDF operations are often supported by sizeable regional state paramilitary units 

the ENDF is focused on both external threats emanating from its neighbors and internal threats from multiple internal armed groups; since 1998, the ENDF has engaged in several conventional and counterinsurgency operations, including border wars with Eritrea (1998-2000) and Somalia (2006-2008) and internal conflicts with the Tigray regional state (2020-2022), several insurgent groups and ethnic militias (including the ethnonationalist Amhara Fano), and the al-Shabaab terrorist group (see Appendix T); as of late 2023, the ENDF was conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-government militants in several states, including in Oromya (Oromia) against the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an insurgent group that claims to be fighting for greater autonomy for the Oromo, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group; in 2022, militants from the Somalia-based al-Shabaab terrorist group launched an incursion into Ethiopia's Somali (Sumale) regional state, attacking villages and security forces; the Ethiopian Government claimed that regional security forces killed hundreds of al-Shabaab fighters and subsequently deployed additional ENDF troops into Somalia’s Gedo region to prevent further incursions (2023)" } }, "Space": { @@ -1274,7 +1274,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "419,304 (South Sudan), 311,512 (Somalia), 167,391 (Eritrea), 25,463 (Sudan) (refugees since 15 April 2023) (2023)" + "text": "167,391 (Eritrea), 25,463 (Sudan) (refugees since 15 April 2023) (2023); 419,919 (South Sudan), 314,188 (Somalia) (2024)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "4.385 million (includes conflict- and climate-induced IDPs, excluding unverified estimates from the Amhara region; border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000; ethnic clashes; and ongoing fighting between the Ethiopian military and separatist rebel groups in the Somali and Oromia regions; natural disasters; intercommunal violence; most IDPs live in Sumale state) (2023)" diff --git a/africa/ga.json b/africa/ga.json index c314af65..2ab4fc14 100644 --- a/africa/ga.json +++ b/africa/ga.json @@ -1122,10 +1122,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "9 (2022)" + "text": "15 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 1, other 8" + "text": "general cargo 5, other 10" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/gb.json b/africa/gb.json index 7395a324..b6fd939d 100644 --- a/africa/gb.json +++ b/africa/gb.json @@ -122,13 +122,13 @@ } }, "Ethnic groups": { - "text": "Gabonese-born 80.1% (includes Fang 23.2%, Shira-Punu/Vili 18.9%, Nzabi-Duma 11.3%, Mbede-Teke 6.9%, Myene 5%, Kota-Kele 4.9%, Okande-Tsogo 2.1%, Pygmy 0.3%, other 7.5%), Cameroonian 4.6%, Malian 2.4%, Beninese 2.1%, acquired Gabonese nationality 1.6%, Togolese 1.6%, Senegalese 1.1%, Congolese (Brazzaville) 1%, other 5.5% (includes Congolese (Kinshasa), Equatorial Guinean, Nigerian) (2012 est.)" + "text": "Fang 23.5%, Shira-Punu'Vii 20.6%, Nzabi-Duma 11.2%, Mbede-Teke 5.6%, Myene 4.4%, Kota-Kele 4.3%, Okande-Tsogho 1.6%, other 12.6%, foreigner 16.2% (2021 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi" }, "Religions": { - "text": "Roman Catholic 42.3%, Protestant 12.3%, other Christian 27.4%, Muslim 9.8%, animist 0.6%, other 0.5%, none/no answer 7.1% (2012 est.)" + "text": "Protestant 46.4% (Revival Church 37%, other Protestant 9.4%), Roman Catholic 29.8%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 10.8%, traditional/animist 1.1%, other 0.9%, none 7% (2019-21 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

Gabon’s oil revenues have given it one of the highest per capita income levels in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the wealth is not evenly distributed and poverty is widespread. Unemployment is especially prevalent among the large youth population; more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2020. With a fertility rate still averaging more than 3 children per woman, the youth population will continue to grow and further strain the mismatch between Gabon’s supply of jobs and the skills of its labor force.

Gabon has been a magnet to migrants from neighboring countries since the 1960s because of the discovery of oil, as well as the country’s political stability and timber, mineral, and natural gas resources. Nonetheless, income inequality and high unemployment have created slums in Libreville full of migrant workers from Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, and elsewhere in West Africa. In 2011, Gabon declared an end to refugee status for 9,500 remaining Congolese nationals to whom it had granted asylum during the Republic of the Congo’s civil war between 1997 and 2003. About 5,400 of these refugees received permits to reside in Gabon.

" @@ -1120,10 +1120,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "71 (2022)" + "text": "87 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 2, general cargo 19, oil tanker 20, other 30" + "text": "bulk carrier 1, general cargo 19, oil tanker 30, other 37" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Gabonese Armed Forces (Force Armées Gabonaise or FAG; aka Gabonese Defense and Security Forces): Land Forces (Army), National Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie (includes Coast Guard), Corps of Firemen; Republican Guard (2023)", + "text": "Gabonese Armed Forces (Force Armées Gabonaise or FAG; aka Gabonese Defense and Security Forces): Land Forces (Army), National Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie (includes Coast Guard), Corps of Firemen; Republican Guard (2024)", "note": "note: the National Police Forces, under the Ministry of Interior, and the National Gendarmerie, under the Ministry of Defense, are responsible for law enforcement and public security; elements of the armed forces and the Republican Guard, an elite unit that protects the president under his direct authority, sometimes perform internal security functions" }, "Military expenditures": { diff --git a/africa/gh.json b/africa/gh.json index bbed8d0f..c97f599c 100644 --- a/africa/gh.json +++ b/africa/gh.json @@ -1176,10 +1176,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "52 (2022)" + "text": "52 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 7, oil tanker 3, other 42" + "text": "general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/gv.json b/africa/gv.json index 6e25a66e..5859eca0 100644 --- a/africa/gv.json +++ b/africa/gv.json @@ -1142,10 +1142,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "3 (2022)" + "text": "23 (2022)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 1, other 2" + "text": "other 2" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/iv.json b/africa/iv.json index 4fa68a04..888975d1 100644 --- a/africa/iv.json +++ b/africa/iv.json @@ -1192,7 +1192,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "25 (2022)" + "text": "25 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "oil tanker 2, other 23" diff --git a/africa/ke.json b/africa/ke.json index 5661d04b..2933bd44 100644 --- a/africa/ke.json +++ b/africa/ke.json @@ -1189,10 +1189,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "25 (2022)" + "text": "26 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "oil tanker 3, other 22" + "text": "oil tanker 4, other 22" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/li.json b/africa/li.json index eba03ed9..09616f31 100644 --- a/africa/li.json +++ b/africa/li.json @@ -1108,10 +1108,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "4,311 (2022)" + "text": "4,821 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 1,673, container ship 962, general cargo 141, oil tanker 907, other 628" + "text": "bulk carrier 1,895, container ship 1,013, general cargo 170, oil tanker 1,038, other 705" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/ly.json b/africa/ly.json index 7e3079f4..bb0ed915 100644 --- a/africa/ly.json +++ b/africa/ly.json @@ -1071,10 +1071,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "94 (2022)" + "text": "96 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 2, oil tanker 12, other 80" + "text": "general cargo 2, oil tanker 13, other 81" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/ma.json b/africa/ma.json index bdd7391a..b741bebc 100644 --- a/africa/ma.json +++ b/africa/ma.json @@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 November 2023 (next to be held in November 2028); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president" }, "election results": { - "text": "
2023: Andry RAJOELINA elected president in first round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.3%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%

2018: Andry RAJOELINA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 39.2%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 35.4%, other 25.4%; percent of vote in second round - Andry RAJOELINA 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3%" + "text": "
2023: Andry RAJOELINA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.3%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%

2018: Andry RAJOELINA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 39.2%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 35.4%, other 25.4%; percent of vote in second round - Andry RAJOELINA 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3%" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -1141,10 +1141,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "28 (2022)" + "text": "29 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 15, oil tanker 2, other 11" + "text": "general cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/mp.json b/africa/mp.json index b5dacf37..b0b8eb15 100644 --- a/africa/mp.json +++ b/africa/mp.json @@ -1110,7 +1110,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "no regular military forces; the Mauritius Police Force (MPF) under the Ministry of Defense includes a paramilitary unit known as the Special Mobile Force, which includes some motorized infantry and light armored units; the MPF also has a Police Helicopter Squadron, a Special Support Unit (riot police), and the National Coast Guard (also includes an air squadron) (2023)", + "text": "no regular military forces; the Mauritius Police Force (MPF) under the Ministry of Defense includes a paramilitary unit known as the Special Mobile Force, which includes some motorized infantry and light armored units; the MPF also has a Police Helicopter Squadron, a Special Support Unit (riot police), and the National Coast Guard (also includes an air squadron) (2024)", "note": "note: the MPF is responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order within the country; a police commissioner heads the force and has authority over all police and other security forces, including the Coast Guard and Special Mobile Forces; the Special Mobile Forces share responsibility with police for internal security" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { diff --git a/africa/ng.json b/africa/ng.json index d6f39a97..65e34765 100644 --- a/africa/ng.json +++ b/africa/ng.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "

Present-day Niger originated from the nomadic peoples of the Saharan north and the agriculturalists of the south. The Taureg kingdom of Takedda was one of the largest kingdoms in the north and played a prominent role in regional trade in the 14th century. In the south, the primary ethnic groups were the Songhai-Zarma in the west, the Hausa in the center, and the Kanuri in the east. When European colonizers arrived in the 19th century, the region was an assemblage of disparate local kingdoms.

In the late 19th century, the British and French agreed to partition the middle regions of the Niger River, and France began its conquest of what would become the colony of Niger.  France experienced determined local resistance - particularly during the Tuareg uprising (1916-1917) - but established a colonial administration in 1922.

After achieving independence from France in 1960, Niger experienced single-party or military rule until 1991 when political pressure forced General Ali SAIBOU to allow multiparty elections. Political infighting and democratic backsliding led to coups in 1996 and 1999. In December of that year, military officers restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and spearheaded a 2009 constitutional amendment allowing him to extend his presidential term. In February 2010, military officers led another coup that deposed TANDJA. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou was elected in April 2011 and reelected in early 2016. In February 2021, BAZOUM Mohammed won the presidential election, marking Niger’s first transition from one democratically elected president to another. Nonetheless, a military junta once again seized power in a late-July 2023 coup, detaining President BAZOUM, and announcing the creation of a National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP), headed by coup-leader General Abdourahamane Tiani.

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. It is ranked last in the world on the UN Development Program's Human Development Index. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Government continues its attempts to diversify the economy through increased oil production and mining projects. In addition, Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict and terrorism in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.

" + "text": "

Present-day Niger originated from the nomadic peoples of the Saharan north and the agriculturalists of the south. The Taureg kingdom of Takedda was one of the largest kingdoms in the north and played a prominent role in regional trade in the 14th century. In the south, the primary ethnic groups were the Songhai-Zarma in the west, the Hausa in the center, and the Kanuri in the east. When European colonizers arrived in the 19th century, the region was an assemblage of disparate local kingdoms.

In the late 19th century, the British and French agreed to partition the middle regions of the Niger River, and France began its conquest of what would become the colony of Niger.  France experienced determined local resistance - particularly during the Tuareg uprising (1916-1917) - but established a colonial administration in 1922.

After achieving independence from France in 1960, Niger experienced single-party or military rule until 1991 when political pressure forced General Ali SAIBOU to allow multiparty elections. Political infighting and democratic backsliding led to coups in 1996 and 1999. In December of that year, military officers restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and spearheaded a 2009 constitutional amendment allowing him to extend his presidential term. In February 2010, military officers led another coup that deposed TANDJA. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou was elected in April 2011 and reelected in early 2016. In February 2021, BAZOUM Mohamed won the presidential election, marking Niger’s first transition from one democratically elected president to another. Nonetheless, a military junta once again seized power in a late-July 2023 coup, detaining President BAZOUM, and announcing the creation of a National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP), headed by coup-leader General Abdourahamane TIANI.

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. It is ranked last in the world on the UN Development Program's Human Development Index. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Government continues its attempts to diversify the economy through increased oil production and mining projects. In addition, Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict and terrorism in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.

" } }, "Geography": { @@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President of the National Council for Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TCHIANI (since 28 July 2023); note - deposed president BAZOUM has been under house arrest since a military coup on 26 July 2023" + "text": "President of the National Council for Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023); note - deposed president BAZOUM has been under house arrest since a military coup on 26 July 2023" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023)" @@ -1138,7 +1138,7 @@ "text": "1 (2021)" }, "Pipelines": { - "text": "464 km oil" + "text": "2,444 km oil (2024)" }, "Roadways": { "total": { @@ -1152,7 +1152,7 @@ } }, "Waterways": { - "text": "300 km (2012) (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March)" + "text": "563 km (2024) (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { @@ -1214,7 +1214,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "200,497 (Nigeria), 67,191 (Mali) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023)" + "text": "67,191 (Mali) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023); 200,477 (Nigeria) (2024)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "335,277 (includes the regions of Diffa, Tillaberi, and Tahoua; unknown how many of the 11,000 people displaced by clashes between government forces and the Tuareg militant group, Niger Movement for Justice, in 2007 are still displaced; inter-communal violence; Boko Haram attacks in southern Niger, 2015) (2023)" diff --git a/africa/pu.json b/africa/pu.json index 05895e38..03fd123b 100644 --- a/africa/pu.json +++ b/africa/pu.json @@ -1070,10 +1070,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "8 (2022)" + "text": "20 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 5, other 3" + "text": "bulk carrier 3, general cargo 12, other 5" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/africa/se.json b/africa/se.json index b15c2096..47ad9ea5 100644 --- a/africa/se.json +++ b/africa/se.json @@ -1090,7 +1090,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Seychelles Defense Forces (SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force

Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (includes unarmed police and an armed paramilitary Police Special Support Wing, and the Marine Police Unit) (2023)", + "text": "Seychelles Defense Forces (SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force

Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (includes unarmed police and an armed paramilitary Police Special Support Wing, and the Marine Police Unit) (2024)", "note": "note: the SDF reports to the president, who acts as minister of defense  " }, "Military expenditures": { diff --git a/africa/ug.json b/africa/ug.json index fd466109..06a361be 100644 --- a/africa/ug.json +++ b/africa/ug.json @@ -1224,7 +1224,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "923,607 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 505,075 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 41,562 (Somalia), 40,136 (Burundi), 34,368 (Eritrea), 23,388 (Rwanda), 8,936 (Ethiopia), 5,776 (Sudan) (2023)" + "text": "505,075 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 34,368 (Eritrea), 23,388 (Rwanda), 8,936 (Ethiopia), 5,776 (Sudan) (2023); 926,550 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 41,606 (Somalia), 40,180 (Burundi) (2024)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "67,000 (2022)" diff --git a/africa/uv.json b/africa/uv.json index 945cce04..7b229e81 100644 --- a/africa/uv.json +++ b/africa/uv.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "

Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga. In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate.

The area achieved independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984. Repeated military coups were common in the country’s first few decades. In 1987 Blaise COMPAORE deposed the former president, established a government, and ruled for 27 years. In October 2014, COMPAORE resigned following protests against his repeated efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit. An interim administration led a year-long transition period organizing presidential and legislative elections. In November 2015, Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president; he was reelected in November 2020. In 2022, military personnel conducted two coups. First, in January 2022, Paul Henri DAMIBA, a colonel in the army, overthrew KABORE and then in September 2022, army captain Ibrahim TRAORE deposed DAMIBA and became transition president. The transition government had planned to hold democratic elections by July 2024, but may be delayed due to security concerns.

Terrorist groups - including groups affiliated with Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State - began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018. By early 2023, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced more than 2 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity. In addition to terrorism, the country faces a myriad of problems including high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources. It is one of the world’s poorest countries.

 

" + "text": "

Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga. In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate.

The country achieved independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984. Repeated military coups were common in the country’s first few decades. In 1987 Blaise COMPAORE deposed the former president, established a government, and ruled for 27 years. In October 2014, COMPAORE resigned following protests against his repeated efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit. An interim administration led a year-long transition period organizing presidential and legislative elections. In November 2015, Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president; he was reelected in November 2020. In 2022, military personnel conducted two takeovers. First, in January 2022, Paul Henri DAMIBA, a colonel in the army, overthrew KABORE in a coup d'etat and then, in September 2022, army captain Ibrahim TRAORE deposed DAMIBA and declared himself transition president. The transition government had planned to hold democratic elections by July 2024, but may be delayed due to security concerns.

Terrorist groups - including groups affiliated with Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State - began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018. By early 2023, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced more than 2 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity. In addition to terrorism, the country faces a myriad of problems including high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources. It is one of the world’s poorest countries.

 

" } }, "Geography": { @@ -555,16 +555,16 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022); note - on 30 September 2022, a military junta, led by TRAORE, took power and ousted President Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA and took over as head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration" + "text": "transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022); note - on 30 September 2022, a military junta, led by TRAORE, took power and ousted Transition President Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA and took over as head of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Joachim KYLEM DE TAMBELA (since 21 October 2022); note - transitional President TRAORE appointed KYLEM DE TAMBELA Prime Minister on 21 October 2022; the position had been vacant since 30 September 2022 when the military ousted former Prime Minister Albert OUEDRAOGO" }, "cabinet": { - "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister" + "text": "prior to the 2022 coups and adhoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 22 November 2020 (next to be held by July 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly" + "text": "prior to the 2022 coups and adhoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 22 November 2020 (next were to be held by July 2024, but may be delayed by the transitional government due to security concerns); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly" }, "election results": { "text": "
2020: Roch Marc Christian KABORE reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 57.9%, Eddie KOMBOIGO (CDP) 15.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 12.5%, other 14.1%

2015: Roch Marc Christian KABORE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 53.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 29.6%, Tahirou BARRY (PAREN) 3.1%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA (UNIR-MS) 2.8%, other 10.9%" @@ -572,10 +572,10 @@ }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { - "text": "unicameral National Assembly (127 seats; 111 members directly elected in 13 multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 26 members elected in a nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)" + "text": "prior to the 2022 coups and adhoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, unicameral National Assembly (127 seats; 111 members directly elected in 13 multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 26 members elected in a nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); 71-member Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) appointed by the military junta in 2022 indefinitely replaced the National Assembly" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 22 November 2020 (next to be held NA)" + "text": "last held on 22 November 2020 (next were to be held by July 2024, but may be delayed by the transitional government due to security concerns)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - MPP 34.6%, CDP 13.3%, UPC 10.2%, NTD 5.6%, other 36.3%; seats by party - MPP 56, CDP 20, NTD 13, UPC 12, other 26; composition as of October 2021 - men 119, women 8, percent of women 6.3%" @@ -617,13 +617,13 @@ }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { - "text": "Ambassador Sandra E. CLARK (since 25 September 2020)" + "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Eric WHITAKER (since January 2024)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Secteur 15, Ouaga 2000, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Rue 15.873, Ouagadougou" }, "mailing address": { - "text": "2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC  20521-2440" + "text": "AmEmbassy Ouagadougou, Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC  20521-2440" }, "telephone": { "text": "(226) 25-49-53-00" @@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ "text": "(226) 25-49-56-23" }, "email address and website": { - "text": "
ouagaACS@state.gov

https://bf.usembassy.gov/" + "text": "
AmembOuaga@state.gov

https://bf.usembassy.gov/" } }, "Flag description": { diff --git a/antarctica/fs.json b/antarctica/fs.json index d1ccdbeb..4b66beaa 100644 --- a/antarctica/fs.json +++ b/antarctica/fs.json @@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "2 (2022)" + "text": "2 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "other 2" diff --git a/australia-oceania/as.json b/australia-oceania/as.json index 69fad6ff..23322e4b 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/as.json +++ b/australia-oceania/as.json @@ -1192,10 +1192,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "587 (2022)" + "text": "604 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 2, general cargo 77, oil tanker 6, other 502" + "text": "bulk carrier 2, general cargo 76, oil tanker 6, other 520" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/cw.json b/australia-oceania/cw.json index 8d3591a8..6eed228e 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/cw.json +++ b/australia-oceania/cw.json @@ -896,10 +896,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "189 (2022)" + "text": "190 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 20, general cargo 53, oil tanker 51, other 65" + "text": "bulk carrier 19, general cargo 44, oil tanker 58, other 69" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ "text": "no regular military forces; Cook Islands Police Service" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

the Cook Islands have a \"shiprider\" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within its designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; \"shiprider\" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2022)" + "text": "defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

the Cook Islands have a \"shiprider\" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within its designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; \"shiprider\" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/fj.json b/australia-oceania/fj.json index 508e4ca0..cdb324d5 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/fj.json +++ b/australia-oceania/fj.json @@ -1102,10 +1102,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "75 (2022)" + "text": "74 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 21, oil tanker 4, other 50" + "text": "general cargo 21, oil tanker 4, other 49" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/fm.json b/australia-oceania/fm.json index dd1087fa..ddef06fd 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/fm.json +++ b/australia-oceania/fm.json @@ -957,7 +957,7 @@ "text": "no military forces; Federated States of Micronesia National Police (includes a maritime wing); the Department of Justice oversees the National Police; State police forces are responsible for law enforcement in their respective states and are under the jurisdiction of each state’s director of public safety (2024)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "defense is the responsibility of the US

Micronesia has a \"shiprider\" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Micronesia's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; \"shiprider\" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)" + "text": "defense is the responsibility of the US

Micronesia has a \"shiprider\" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Micronesia's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; \"shiprider\" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2024)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/fp.json b/australia-oceania/fp.json index 09102adb..b38cf5a4 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/fp.json +++ b/australia-oceania/fp.json @@ -922,10 +922,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "25 (2022)" + "text": "24 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 14, other 11" + "text": "general cargo 14" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/gq.json b/australia-oceania/gq.json index 6b386967..4a9d7808 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/gq.json +++ b/australia-oceania/gq.json @@ -866,7 +866,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "3 (2022)" + "text": "3 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "other 3" diff --git a/australia-oceania/kr.json b/australia-oceania/kr.json index bf04ce75..5c71fa6a 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/kr.json +++ b/australia-oceania/kr.json @@ -1030,10 +1030,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "90 (2022)" + "text": "74 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 3, general cargo 35, oil tanker 11, other 41" + "text": "bulk carrier 2, general cargo 24, oil tanker 11, other 37" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/australia-oceania/ps.json b/australia-oceania/ps.json index 5f8a2ece..b7260322 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/ps.json +++ b/australia-oceania/ps.json @@ -897,10 +897,10 @@ }, "Roadways": { "total": { - "text": "125 km (2018)" + "text": "121 km (2018)" }, "paved": { - "text": "89 km (2018)" + "text": "85 km (2018)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "36 km (2018)" diff --git a/australia-oceania/rm.json b/australia-oceania/rm.json index 70ae7d64..5351a2b7 100644 --- a/australia-oceania/rm.json +++ b/australia-oceania/rm.json @@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ "text": "president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 2 January 2023 (next to be held in 2027)" }, "election results": { - "text": "2023: Hilda C. HEINE elected president; National Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE 17, David KABUA 16

2020: David KABUA elected president; National Parliament vote - David KABUA 20, Hilda C. HEINE 12  " + "text": "2023: Hilda C. HEINE elected president; National Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE (independent) 17, David KABUA (independent) 16

2020: David KABUA elected president; National Parliament vote - David KABUA (independent) 20, Hilda C. HEINE (independent) 12" } }, "Legislative branch": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/aa.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/aa.json index 3e3c9fe3..eae951aa 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/aa.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/aa.json @@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ "text": "last held on 25 June 2021 (next to be held in June 2025)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party MEP 35.3%, AVP 31.3%, ROOTS 9.4%, MAS 8%, Accion21 5.8%; seats by party - MEP 9, AVP 7, ROOTS 2, MAS 2, Accion21 1; composition - men 13, women 8, percent of women as of September 2023 - 38.1%" + "text": "percent of vote by party MEP 35.3%, AVP 31.3%, ROOTS 9.4%, MAS 8%, Accion21 5.8%; seats by party - MEP 9, AVP 7, ROOTS 2, MAS 2, Accion21 1; composition as of September 2023 - men 13, women 8, percent of women - 38.1%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1 (2022)" + "text": "1 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "other 1" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/ac.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/ac.json index 971da7f1..82064302 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/ac.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/ac.json @@ -1013,10 +1013,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "638 (2022)" + "text": "614 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 26, container ship 112, general cargo 443, oil tanker 4, other 53" + "text": "bulk carrier 24, container ship 109, general cargo 425, oil tanker 6, other 50" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/av.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/av.json index c0d74c9c..7084b883 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/av.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/av.json @@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "2 (2022)" + "text": "2 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "other 2" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json index bb688c96..38c0a49f 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json @@ -1043,10 +1043,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "195 (2022)" + "text": "272 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 61, general cargo 114, other 20" + "text": "bulk carrier 90, general cargo 149, oil tanker 5, other 28" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json index d3bae2d4..6a87cd06 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/bf.json @@ -1041,10 +1041,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1,307 (2022)" + "text": "1,274 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 337, container ship 40, general cargo 63, oil tanker 213, other 654" + "text": "bulk carrier 345, container ship 39, general cargo 58, oil tanker 193, other 639" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json index dedae1a2..8c5fc023 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/bh.json @@ -1110,10 +1110,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "817 (2022)" + "text": "774 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 51, general cargo 433, oil tanker 67, other 266" + "text": "bulk carrier 49, general cargo 410, oil tanker 64, other 251" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json index 8614cb0e..03b21267 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/cj.json @@ -903,10 +903,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "139 (2022)" + "text": "130 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 86" + "text": "bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 77" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json index 80d11887..bbf3b7b8 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/cs.json @@ -1151,7 +1151,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "11 (2022)" + "text": "11 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "other 11" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/cu.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/cu.json index 1f7b02e2..3e1a840a 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/cu.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/cu.json @@ -1146,10 +1146,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "64 (2022)" + "text": "65 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 13, oil tanker 10, other 41" + "text": "general cargo 13, oil tanker 10, other 42" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/do.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/do.json index 832c57c1..90e79aa0 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/do.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/do.json @@ -959,10 +959,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "84 (2022)" + "text": "77 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 31, oil tanker 13, other 40" + "text": "general cargo 26, oil tanker 10, other 41" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -981,7 +981,7 @@ }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { - "text": "

Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

" + "text": "

Dominica-Venezuela: is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

" }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "

a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean; some local demand for cocaine and some use of synthetic drugs

" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json index 5bbadcb3..a696a9df 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json @@ -1174,10 +1174,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "38 (2022)" + "text": "40 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 34" + "text": "container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 36" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/es.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/es.json index 57d06b41..b7606a3a 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/es.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/es.json @@ -116,11 +116,11 @@ } }, "Ethnic groups": { - "text": "Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Amerindian 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)" + "text": "Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Indigenous 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { - "text": "Spanish (official), Nawat (among some Amerindians)" + "text": "Spanish (official), Nawat (among some Indigenous)" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information." @@ -540,10 +540,10 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "Acting President Claudia Juana RODRÍGUEZ de Guevara (since 1 December 2023); note - parliament granted a six-month leave of absence to President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez and Vice President Félix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (to allow them to participate in the 4 February 2024 presidential election) and approved the appointment of Claudia Juana RODRÍGUEZ de Guevara as acting president from 1 December 2023 to 1 June 2024, when election winner Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez will be sworn in for a second term" + "text": "Acting President Claudia Juana RODRÍGUEZ DE GUEVARA (since 1 December 2023); note - parliament granted a six-month leave of absence to President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez and Vice President Félix Augusto Antonio ULLOA Garay (to allow them to participate in the 4 February 2024 presidential election) and approved the appointment of Claudia Juana RODRÍGUEZ DE GUEVARA as acting president from 1 December 2023 to 1 June 2024, when election winner Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez will be sworn in for a second term" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Acting President Claudia Juana RODRÍGUEZ de Guevara (since 1 December 2023)" + "text": "Acting President Claudia Juana RODRÍGUEZ DE GUEVARA (since 1 December 2023)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers selected by the president" @@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ "text": "president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 5-year term; election last held on 4 February 2024 (next to be held in 2029)" }, "election results": { - "text": "2024: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez reelected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (Nuevas Ideas) 83.1%, Manuel FLORES (FMLN) 7%, Joel SANCHEZ (ARENA) 6.2%, Luis PARADA (NT) 2.3%, other 1.5% (preliminary results with 70% of votes counted) 

2019: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.7%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.4%, other 0.8%" + "text": "2024: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez reelected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (Nuevas Ideas) 84.7%, Manuel FLORES (FMLN) 6.4%, Joel SANCHEZ (ARENA) 5.6%, Luis PARADA (NT) 2%, other 1.3%

2019: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.7%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.4%, other 0.8%" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -1162,10 +1162,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "4 (2022)" + "text": "5 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "other 4" + "text": "other 5" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/gj.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/gj.json index 1acd186f..075350a9 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/gj.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/gj.json @@ -1008,7 +1008,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "6 (2022)" + "text": "6 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 3, other 3" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/gt.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/gt.json index baa33366..9b6d4aa6 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/gt.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/gt.json @@ -1169,7 +1169,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "9 (2022)" + "text": "9 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "oil tanker 1, other 8" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/ha.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/ha.json index 648f40f7..9d860a91 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/ha.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/ha.json @@ -1116,7 +1116,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "4 (2022)" + "text": "4 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 3, other 1" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/ho.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/ho.json index 4ee500ef..c78567e6 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/ho.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/ho.json @@ -1163,10 +1163,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "505 (2022)" + "text": "489 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 246, oil tanker 82, other 177" + "text": "general cargo 233, oil tanker 82, other 174" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/jm.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/jm.json index 0959d5fa..3800f3f3 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/jm.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/jm.json @@ -1082,10 +1082,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "36 (2022)" + "text": "40 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 1, general cargo 9, oil tanker 1, other 25" + "text": "bulk carrier 1, general cargo 11, oil tanker 1, other 27" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/sc.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/sc.json index 51a773e1..e42a473c 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/sc.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/sc.json @@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { - "text": "

Saint Kitts and Nevis-Venezuela: joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

" + "text": "

none identified

" }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "

a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean; some local demand for cocaine and some use of synthetic drugs

" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/st.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/st.json index c090d415..edc0a294 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/st.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/st.json @@ -1036,7 +1036,7 @@ }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { - "text": "

Saint Lucia-Venezuela: joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

" + "text": "none identified" }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "

a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean; some local demand for cocaine and some use of synthetic drugs

" diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/uc.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/uc.json index 3e2f7a47..2270a2e3 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/uc.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/uc.json @@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ "text": "last held on 19 March 2021 (next to be held in 2025)" }, "election results": { - "text": "
percent of vote by party - MFK 28.1%, PAR 14.1%, PNP 12.6%, MAN 6.5%, KEM 5.4%, TPK 5.3%; seats by party - MFK 9, PAR 4, PNP 4, MAN 2, KEM 1, TPK 1; composition as of January 2024 - men 15, women 6, percent of women 28.6%" + "text": "
percent of vote by party - MFK 27.8%, PAR 13.9%, PNP 12.5%, MAN 6.4%, KEM 5.4%, TPK 5.2%; seats by party - MFK 9, PAR 4, PNP 4, MAN 2, KEM 1, TPK 1; composition as of January 2024 - men 15, women 6, percent of women 28.6%" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -756,10 +756,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "59 (2022)" + "text": "57 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 53" + "text": "general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 51" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-america-n-caribbean/vi.json b/central-america-n-caribbean/vi.json index ab1bbcd7..c8fdc146 100644 --- a/central-america-n-caribbean/vi.json +++ b/central-america-n-caribbean/vi.json @@ -832,10 +832,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "30 (2022)" + "text": "29 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 3, other 27" + "text": "general cargo 3, other 26" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/central-asia/kz.json b/central-asia/kz.json index 4a890396..d393265c 100644 --- a/central-asia/kz.json +++ b/central-asia/kz.json @@ -1205,10 +1205,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "120 (2022)" + "text": "122 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 110" + "text": "general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 112" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json index d9dfa60f..66091c74 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/bm.json @@ -1234,8 +1234,8 @@ "text": "the Burmese military inventory is comprised mostly of older Chinese and Russian/Soviet-era equipment with a smaller mix of more modern acquisitions from a variety of countries; in recent years, China and Russia have been the leading suppliers of military hardware; Burma has a limited defense industry, including a growing shipbuilding capability and some production of ground force equipment that is largely based on Chinese and Russian designs (2023)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { - "text": "18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary military service; no conscription (a 2010 law reintroducing conscription has not yet entered into force); 2-year service obligation; professional men (ages 18-45) and women (ages 18-35), including doctors, engineers, and mechanics, serve up to 3 years; service terms may be stretched to 5 years in an officially declared emergency (2023)", - "note": "note: during the ongoing insurgency, the military rulers have recruited men 18-60 to serve in local militias" + "text": "18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary and conscripted military service; 24-month service obligation; conscripted professional men (ages 18-45) and women (ages 18-35), including doctors, engineers, and mechanics, serve up to 36 months; service terms may be extended to 60 months in an officially declared emergency (2024)", + "note": "note 1: in February 2024, the military government announced that the People’s Military Service Law requiring mandatory military service would go into effect; the Service Law was first introduced in 2010 but had not previously been enforced

note 2: during the ongoing insurgency, the military rulers have recruited men 18-60 to serve in local militias" }, "Military - note": { "text": "since the country’s founding, the Tatmadaw has been heavily involved in domestic politics and the national economy; it ran the country for five decades following a military coup in 1962; prior to the most recent coup in 2021, the military already controlled three key security ministries (Defense, Border, and Home Affairs), one of two vice presidential appointments, 25% of the parliamentary seats, and had a proxy political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP); it owns and operates two business conglomerates that have over 100 subsidiaries; the business activities of these conglomerates include banking and insurance, hotels, tourism, jade and ruby mining, timber, construction, real estate, and the production of palm oil, sugar, soap, cement, beverages, drinking water, coal, and gas; some of the companies supply goods and services to the military, such as food, clothing, insurance, and cellphone service; the military also manages a film industry, publishing houses, and television stations

the Tatmadaw's primary operational focus is internal security, and it is conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-regime forces that launched an armed rebellion following the 2021 coup and an array of ethnic armed groups (EAGs), some of which have considerable military capabilities; it has been accused of committing atrocities in the conduct of its campaign against the pro-democracy movement and opposition forces 

the military's primary focus is counterinsurgency; the Army is the dominant service and its principal combat forces are organized into 10 centrally-commanded light infantry/rapid reaction divisions, which have a key role in fighting against insurgents; the light infantry divisions are supported by approximately 20 regionally-based, divisional-sized “military operations commands” and several brigade-sized “regional operations commands”; the Army’s counterinsurgency operations are supported by the National Police, which has dozens of paramilitary combat police battalions; the Air Force also has a large counterinsurgency role with more than 100 combat-capable aircraft and helicopters, mostly ground attack aircraft and helicopter gunships, complemented by some multipurpose fighters; the Navy has traditionally been a coastal defense force, and the majority of the combat fleet consists of fast attack and patrol vessels; however, in recent years the Navy has expanded its blue water capabilities and has a small force of frigates and corvettes, as well as a landing platform docking (LPD) amphibious assault ship and two attack submarines acquired since 2020

the military is supported by hundreds of pro-government militias; some are integrated within the Tatmadaw’s command structure as Border Guard Forces, which are organized as battalions with a mix of militia forces, EAGs, and government soldiers that are armed, supplied, and paid by the Tatmadaw; other pro-military government militias are not integrated within the Tatmadaw command structure but receive direction and some support from the military and are recognized as government militias; a third type of pro-government militias are small community-based units that are armed, coordinated, and trained by local Tatmadaw forces and activated as needed; the military regime has attempted to raise new militia units to help combat the popular uprising

EAGs have been fighting for self-rule against the Burmese Government since 1948; there are approximately 20 such groups operating in Burma with strengths of a few hundred up to more than 25,000 estimated fighters; some are organized along military lines with \"brigades\" and \"divisions\" and armed with heavy weaponry, including artillery; they control large tracts of the country’s territory, primarily in the border regions; key groups include the United Wa State Army, Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army

the opposition National Unity Government claims its armed wing, the People's Defense Force (PDF), has more than 60,000 fighters loosely organized into battalions; in addition, several EAGs have cooperated with the NUG and supported local PDF groups (2023)" diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json index e603e829..e730bd3c 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/bx.json @@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ "text": "unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei (33 seats; 20 members appointed by the sultan from ex-officio cabinet ministers, titled people, and prominent citizens in public service and various professional fields, 13 members from 4 multi-seat constituencies, and 3 ex-officio members - the speaker and first and second secretaries); members serve 5-year terms" }, "elections": { - "text": "January 2017 - appointed by the sultan" + "text": "January 2023 - appointed by the sultan" }, "election results": { "text": "Legislative Council last appointed January 2023; composition men 30, women 4, percent of women 11.8%" @@ -1078,10 +1078,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "98 (2022)" + "text": "97 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 18, oil tanker 3, other 77" + "text": "general cargo 18, oil tanker 2, other 77" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json index 54aa09dd..5ea79434 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/cb.json @@ -1166,10 +1166,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "242 (2022)" + "text": "195 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ship 2, general cargo 159, oil tanker 18, other 63" + "text": "container ship 2, general cargo 123, oil tanker 18, other 52" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json index d95b6407..092ddf2a 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/ch.json @@ -1254,10 +1254,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "7,362 (2022)" + "text": "8,314 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 1,684, container ship 355, general cargo 1,164, oil tanker 1,133, other 3,026" + "text": "bulk carrier 1,831, container ship 419, general cargo 1,392, oil tanker 1,196, other 3,476" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/hk.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/hk.json index 91025e00..9001b618 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/hk.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/hk.json @@ -995,10 +995,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "2,661 (2022)" + "text": "2,537 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 1,135, container ship 558, general cargo 155, oil tanker 394, other 419" + "text": "bulk carrier 1,047, container ship 560, general cargo 144, oil tanker 394, other 392" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json index 77a41a70..8e840636 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/id.json @@ -1225,10 +1225,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "11,015 (2022)" + "text": "11,422 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 154, container ship 218, general cargo 2,310, oil tanker 700, other 7,633" + "text": "bulk carrier 160, container ship 219, general cargo 2,347, oil tanker 714, other 7,982" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/ja.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/ja.json index 05e7d28f..87d1e7b0 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/ja.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/ja.json @@ -1199,10 +1199,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "5,590 (2022)" + "text": "5,229 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 149, container ship 47, general cargo 2,071, oil tanker 690, other 2,633" + "text": "bulk carrier 166, container ship 49, general cargo 1,893, oil tanker 666, other 2,455" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/kn.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/kn.json index 8da069e9..7dac23dc 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/kn.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/kn.json @@ -1038,10 +1038,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "270 (2022)" + "text": "264 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 9, container ship 5, general cargo 193, oil tanker 33, other 30" + "text": "bulk carrier 10, container ship 5, general cargo 191, oil tanker 29, other 29" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/ks.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/ks.json index 140e1fd2..60b4cdaa 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/ks.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/ks.json @@ -1185,10 +1185,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "2,063 (2022)" + "text": "2,149 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 84, container ship 99, general cargo 358, oil tanker 200, other 1,322" + "text": "bulk carrier 93, container ship 115, general cargo 362, oil tanker 219, other 1,360" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/la.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/la.json index 3926e844..ed77bff1 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/la.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/la.json @@ -1155,7 +1155,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1 (2022)" + "text": "1 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 1" @@ -1164,7 +1164,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Air Force, Self-Defense Militia Forces (2023)", + "text": "Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Lao People's Air Force (LPAF), Self-Defense Militia Forces (2024)", "note": "note: the Ministry of Public Security maintains internal security and is responsible for law enforcement; it oversees local, traffic, immigration, and security police, village police auxiliaries, and other armed police units" }, "Military expenditures": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/mc.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/mc.json index 646a7dc2..46b2d52a 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/mc.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/mc.json @@ -910,10 +910,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1 (2022)" + "text": "5 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "other 1" + "text": "other 5" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/my.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/my.json index 9a3fca5f..944f09a4 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/my.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/my.json @@ -1165,10 +1165,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1,790 (2022)" + "text": "1,750 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 14, container ship 33, general cargo 181, oil tanker 156, other 1,406" + "text": "bulk carrier 14, container ship 35, general cargo 169, oil tanker 148, other 1,384" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json b/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json index 5a8e8ebd..732f5cdb 100644 --- a/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json +++ b/east-n-southeast-asia/tw.json @@ -1004,10 +1004,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "450 (2022)" + "text": "465 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 34, container ship 53, general cargo 58, oil tanker 34, other 271" + "text": "bulk carrier 29, container ship 53, general cargo 58, oil tanker 35, other 290" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/al.json b/europe/al.json index f2304e2f..c1038a0d 100644 --- a/europe/al.json +++ b/europe/al.json @@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ }, "Roadways": { "total": { - "text": "3,945 km (2018)" + "text": "3,581 km (2022)" } }, "Waterways": { @@ -1151,10 +1151,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "69 (2022)" + "text": "69 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 47, oil tanker 1, other 21" + "text": "general cargo 46, oil tanker 1, other 22" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/au.json b/europe/au.json index d92f6914..54c36dda 100644 --- a/europe/au.json +++ b/europe/au.json @@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Karl NEHAMMER]
Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Herbert KICKL]
The Greens - The Green Alternative [Werner KOGLER]
NEOS - The New Austria and Liberal Forum [Beate MEINL-REISINGER]
Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Pamela RENDI-WAGNER]" + "text": "Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Karl NEHAMMER]
Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Herbert KICKL]
The Greens - The Green Alternative [Werner KOGLER]
NEOS - The New Austria and Liberal Forum [Beate MEINL-REISINGER]
Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Andreas BABLER]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC" @@ -1174,7 +1174,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1 (2022)" + "text": "1 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "other 1" @@ -1246,7 +1246,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "68,700 (Syria), 43,725 (Afghanistan), 10,110 (Iraq), 8,684 (Somalia), 7,294 (Iran), 6,124 (Russia) (mid-year 2022); 83,185 (Ukraine) (as of 11 December 2023)" + "text": "68,700 (Syria), 43,725 (Afghanistan), 10,110 (Iraq), 8,684 (Somalia), 7,294 (Iran), 6,124 (Russia) (mid-year 2022); 83,980 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "3,219 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/be.json b/europe/be.json index af1a4b99..67797e82 100644 --- a/europe/be.json +++ b/europe/be.json @@ -1183,10 +1183,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "199 (2022)" + "text": "198 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 18, container ship 3, general cargo 15, oil tanker 23, other 140" + "text": "bulk carrier 17, container ship 2, general cargo 16, oil tanker 21, other 142" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1266,7 +1266,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "20,086 (Syria), 7,049 (Afghanistan), 5,769 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 73,095 (Ukraine) (as of 30 November 2023)" + "text": "20,086 (Syria), 7,049 (Afghanistan), 5,769 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 75,055 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "1,190 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/bo.json b/europe/bo.json index 325b52ff..f9634d44 100644 --- a/europe/bo.json +++ b/europe/bo.json @@ -1172,7 +1172,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "4 (2022)" + "text": "4 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "other 4" diff --git a/europe/bu.json b/europe/bu.json index 73aade05..039323ac 100644 --- a/europe/bu.json +++ b/europe/bu.json @@ -1193,10 +1193,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "80 (2022)" + "text": "78 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 3, general cargo 14, oil tanker 8, other 55" + "text": "bulk carrier 2, general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 55" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/cy.json b/europe/cy.json index e1d859ae..35e8c903 100644 --- a/europe/cy.json +++ b/europe/cy.json @@ -1149,10 +1149,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1,030 (2022)" + "text": "1,005 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 255, container ship 169, general cargo 200, oil tanker 61, other 345" + "text": "bulk carrier 243, container ship 154, general cargo 211, oil tanker 47, other 350" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/da.json b/europe/da.json index db8fd20b..fcc292d9 100644 --- a/europe/da.json +++ b/europe/da.json @@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ "text": "unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 each representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier)" }, "elections": { - "text": "last held on 1 November 2022 (next to be held on 31 October 2026)" + "text": "last held on 1 November 2022 (next to be held by 31 October 2026)" }, "election results": { "text": "
percent of vote by party - SDP 27.5%, V 13.3%, M 9.3%, SF 8.3%, E 8.1%, LA 8.1%, C 5.5%, EL 5.1%, SLP 3.8%, AP 3.3%, NB 3.3%, DF 2.6%; seats by party - SDP 50, V 23, M 16, SF 15, E 14, LA 14, C 10, EL 9, SLP 7, AP 6, NB 6, DF 5; composition as of January 2024 - men 98, women 81, percent of women 45.3%" @@ -1143,10 +1143,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "731 (2022)" + "text": "715 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 13, container ship 137, general cargo 70, oil tanker 118, other 393" + "text": "bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1229,7 +1229,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "19,424 (Syria), 5,885 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 36,635 (Ukraine) (as of 17 December 2023)" + "text": "19,424 (Syria), 5,885 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 36,960 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "11,644 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/ei.json b/europe/ei.json index ef38254a..be84eaac 100644 --- a/europe/ei.json +++ b/europe/ei.json @@ -1126,10 +1126,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "96 (2022)" + "text": "94 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 12, general cargo 34, oil tanker 1, other 49" + "text": "bulk carrier 12, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 49" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/en.json b/europe/en.json index 7afd53b2..7961b812 100644 --- a/europe/en.json +++ b/europe/en.json @@ -1142,10 +1142,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "70 (2022)" + "text": "72 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 2, oil tanker 3, other 65" + "text": "general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1199,7 +1199,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "50,450 (Ukraine) (as of 24 December 2023)" + "text": "38,185 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "70,604 (2022); note - following independence in 1991, automatic citizenship was restricted to those who were Estonian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants; thousands of ethnic Russians remained stateless when forced to choose between passing Estonian language and citizenship tests or applying for Russian citizenship; one reason for demurring on Estonian citizenship was to retain the right of visa-free travel to Russia; stateless residents can vote in local elections but not general elections; stateless parents who have been lawful residents of Estonia for at least five years can apply for citizenship for their children before they turn 15 years old" diff --git a/europe/fi.json b/europe/fi.json index 49bd3011..d30d7228 100644 --- a/europe/fi.json +++ b/europe/fi.json @@ -1197,10 +1197,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "278 (2022)" + "text": "282 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 74, oil tanker 5, other 189" + "text": "bulk carrier 9, general cargo 75, oil tanker 4, other 194" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1261,7 +1261,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "9,175 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 61,520 (Ukraine) (as of 24 September 2023)" + "text": "9,175 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 64,750 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "3,546 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/fo.json b/europe/fo.json index 281c6127..2a1e47f1 100644 --- a/europe/fo.json +++ b/europe/fo.json @@ -879,10 +879,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "91 (2022)" + "text": "91 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ships 6, general cargo 43, other 42" + "text": "container ships 6, general cargo 45, other 40" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/fr.json b/europe/fr.json index 75d74f12..7b343dce 100644 --- a/europe/fr.json +++ b/europe/fr.json @@ -1233,10 +1233,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "549 (2022)" + "text": "553 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ship 32, general cargo 49, oil tanker 26, other 442" + "text": "container ship 32, general cargo 48, oil tanker 25, other 448" }, "note": "note: includes Monaco" }, @@ -1326,7 +1326,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "55,681 (Afghanistan), 39,091 (Syria), 33,834 (Sri Lanka), 33,148 (Russia), 31,935 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 24,223 (Sudan), 21,225 (Guinea), 18,008 (Serbia and Kosovo), 17,032 (Turkey), 13,974 (Iraq), 12,286 (Cote d'Ivoire), 11,489 (Eritrea), 11,012 (Cambodia), 10,543 (China), 10,236 (Albania), 10,210 (Somalia), 8,858 (Bangladesh), 8,124 (Mauritania), 8,101 (Mali), 7,991 (Vietnam), 6,913 (Bosnia and Herzegovina), 6,910 (Haiti), 6,808 (Angola), 6,498 (Laos), 6,417 (Armenia), 6,111 (Nigeria), 5,896 (Georgia) (mid-year 2022); 70,570 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2022)" + "text": "69,670 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023); 55,681 (Afghanistan), 39,091 (Syria), 33,834 (Sri Lanka), 33,148 (Russia), 31,935 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 24,223 (Sudan), 21,225 (Guinea), 18,008 (Serbia and Kosovo), 17,032 (Turkey), 13,974 (Iraq), 12,286 (Cote d'Ivoire), 11,489 (Eritrea), 11,012 (Cambodia), 10,543 (China), 10,236 (Albania), 10,210 (Somalia), 8,858 (Bangladesh), 8,124 (Mauritania), 8,101 (Mali), 7,991 (Vietnam), 6,913 (Bosnia and Herzegovina), 6,910 (Haiti), 6,808 (Angola), 6,498 (Laos), 6,417 (Armenia), 6,111 (Nigeria), 5,896 (Georgia) (mid-year 2022)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "3,633 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/gi.json b/europe/gi.json index 862fc7d5..f5e158a4 100644 --- a/europe/gi.json +++ b/europe/gi.json @@ -788,10 +788,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "155 (2022)" + "text": "129 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 8, container ship 12, general cargo 36, oil tanker 16, other 83" + "text": "bulk carrier 8, container ship 5, general cargo 31, oil tanker 16, other 69" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/gm.json b/europe/gm.json index ba7f99de..0d0e4010 100644 --- a/europe/gm.json +++ b/europe/gm.json @@ -1212,10 +1212,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "592 (2022)" + "text": "595 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 1, container ship 72, general cargo 79, oil tanker 34, other 406" + "text": "bulk carrier 1, container ship 69, general cargo 82, oil tanker 32, other 411" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/gr.json b/europe/gr.json index 6e14ce8e..e44c2336 100644 --- a/europe/gr.json +++ b/europe/gr.json @@ -1147,10 +1147,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1,234 (2022)" + "text": "1,215 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 146, container ship 5, general cargo 83, oil tanker 311, other 689" + "text": "bulk carrier 132, container ship 4, general cargo 79, oil tanker 299, other 701" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1229,7 +1229,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "41,594 (Syria), 33,549 (Afghanistan), 14,228 (Iraq), 6,366 (West Bank and Gaza) (mid-year 2022); 25,050 (Ukraine) (as of 30 June 2023)" + "text": "41,594 (Syria), 33,549 (Afghanistan), 14,228 (Iraq), 6,366 (West Bank and Gaza) (mid-year 2022); 27,365 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "4,488 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/hr.json b/europe/hr.json index 55b26866..f19e8de7 100644 --- a/europe/hr.json +++ b/europe/hr.json @@ -1165,10 +1165,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "376 (2022)" + "text": "384 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 12, general cargo 33, oil tanker 14, other 317" + "text": "bulk carrier 10, general cargo 32, oil tanker 14, other 328" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/hu.json b/europe/hu.json index 5faa1694..22d5ca0e 100644 --- a/europe/hu.json +++ b/europe/hu.json @@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President Katalin NOVAK (since 10 May 2022)" + "text": "(vacant); note - President Katalin NOVAK resigned on 10 February 2024; a replacement will be chosen in March 2024" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010)" @@ -1193,7 +1193,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1 (2022)" + "text": "1 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "other 1" @@ -1266,7 +1266,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "65,585 (Ukraine) (as of 23 January 2024)" + "text": "65,585 (Ukraine) (as of 31 January 2024)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "130 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/ic.json b/europe/ic.json index 75214612..d140940b 100644 --- a/europe/ic.json +++ b/europe/ic.json @@ -1101,10 +1101,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "40 (2022)" + "text": "39 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 33" + "text": "general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/it.json b/europe/it.json index f02bec69..2d83c4ab 100644 --- a/europe/it.json +++ b/europe/it.json @@ -1184,10 +1184,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1,266 (2022)" + "text": "1,276 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 20, container ship 6, general cargo 107, oil tanker 102, other 1,031" + "text": "bulk carrier 17, container ship 6, general cargo 109, oil tanker 95, other 1,049" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/lg.json b/europe/lg.json index 63eb6a54..2bc8b416 100644 --- a/europe/lg.json +++ b/europe/lg.json @@ -1138,10 +1138,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "80 (2022)" + "text": "83 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 9, other 39" + "text": "container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 10, other 41" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1198,7 +1198,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "46,610 (Ukraine) (as of 5 December 2023)" + "text": "43,825 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "195,354 (2022); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem" diff --git a/europe/lh.json b/europe/lh.json index c11804e3..68751f65 100644 --- a/europe/lh.json +++ b/europe/lh.json @@ -1165,10 +1165,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "62 (2022)" + "text": "59 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ship 4, general cargo 22, oil tanker 2, other 34" + "text": "container ship 3, general cargo 19, oil tanker 2, other 35" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/europe/ls.json b/europe/ls.json index c4b621bd..5b391330 100644 --- a/europe/ls.json +++ b/europe/ls.json @@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ }, "Roadways": { "total": { - "text": "630 km (2019)" + "text": "420 km (2022)" } }, "Waterways": { diff --git a/europe/lu.json b/europe/lu.json index 55db1d33..07f388b5 100644 --- a/europe/lu.json +++ b/europe/lu.json @@ -1109,7 +1109,7 @@ }, "Roadways": { "total": { - "text": "2,875 km (2019)" + "text": "2,746 km (2022)" } }, "Waterways": { @@ -1117,10 +1117,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "149 (2022)" + "text": "147 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 4, container ship 1, general cargo 27, oil tanker 3, other 114" + "text": "bulk carrier 3, container ship 1, general cargo 24, oil tanker 4, other 115" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1131,7 +1131,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "Luxembourg Army (l'Armée Luxembourgeoise) (2023)", + "text": "Luxembourg Army (l'Armée Luxembourgeoise) (2024)", "note": "note: the Grand Ducal Police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of Internal Security" }, "Military expenditures": { @@ -1162,7 +1162,7 @@ "note": "note 1: since 2003, the Army has allowed EU citizens 18-24 years of age who have been a resident in the country for at least 36 months to volunteer

note 2: 2023, women made up about 12% of the military's full-time personnel" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "founded in 1881, the Luxembourg Army is responsible for the defense of the country and fulfilling the Grand Duchy’s commitments to NATO, European security, and international peacekeeping, as well as providing support to civil authorities in the event of emergencies, such as floods or disease outbreaks; the Army is an active participant in EU, NATO, and UN missions and has contributed small numbers of troops to multinational operations in such places as Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Croatia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Mali, Mozambique, and Uganda; it trains and exercises regularly with EU and NATO partners and has contributed to the NATO battlegroup forward deployed in Lithuania since 2017; Luxembourg was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949

the combat forces of the Luxembourg Army are two companies of infantry and reconnaissance troops; the Army has no combat aircraft; in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries (2023)" + "text": "founded in 1881, the Luxembourg Army is responsible for the defense of the country and fulfilling the Grand Duchy’s commitments to NATO, European security, and international peacekeeping, as well as providing support to civil authorities in the event of emergencies, such as floods or disease outbreaks; the Army is an active participant in EU, NATO, and UN missions and has contributed small numbers of troops to multinational operations in such places as Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Croatia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Mali, Mozambique, and Uganda; it trains and exercises regularly with EU and NATO partners and has contributed to the NATO battlegroup forward deployed in Lithuania since 2017; Luxembourg was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949

the combat forces of the Luxembourg Army are two companies of infantry and reconnaissance troops; the Army has no combat aircraft; in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries (2024)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/europe/md.json b/europe/md.json index 1a3b3099..c6d125e2 100644 --- a/europe/md.json +++ b/europe/md.json @@ -1175,7 +1175,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "120,695 (Ukraine) (as of 14 January 2024)" + "text": "120,695 (Ukraine) (as of 28 January 2024)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "1,701 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/mk.json b/europe/mk.json index 27721c53..144e1563 100644 --- a/europe/mk.json +++ b/europe/mk.json @@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ "text": "president directly elected using a modified 2-round system; a candidate can only be elected in the first round with an absolute majority from all registered voters; in the second round, voter turnout must be at least 40% for the result to be deemed valid; president elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 April and 5 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Assembly" }, "election results": { - "text": "2024: Talat XHAFERI elected caretaker Prime Minister; Assembly vote - 65 for (opposition boycott)

2022: Dimitar KOVACEVSKI elected Prime Minister; Assembly vote - NA

2019: Stevo PENDAROVSKI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 44.8%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (VMRO-DPMNE) 44.2%, Blenim REKA (independent) 11.1%; percent of vote in second round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI 53.6%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA 46.4%" + "text": "2024: Talat XHAFERI elected caretaker Prime Minister; Assembly vote - 65 for (opposition boycott)

2022: Dimitar KOVACEVSKI elected Prime Minister; Assembly vote - NA

2019: Stevo PENDAROVSKI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 44.8%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (VMRO-DPMNE) 44.2%, Blerim REKA (independent) 11.1%; percent of vote in second round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI 53.6%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA 46.4%" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Alliance for Albanians or AfA or ASH [Arben TARAVARI]
Alternative (Alternativa) or AAA [Afrim GASHI]
Besa Movement or BESA [Bilal KASAMI]
Citizen Option for Macedonia or GROM [Stefcho JAKIMOVSKI]
Democratic Alliance or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV]
Democratic Movement or LD [Izet MEXHITI]
Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh [Menduh THACI]
Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]
Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM [Maja MORACHANIN]
Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [Ali AHMETI]
European Democratic Party or PDE [Arianit HOXHA]
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Hristijan MICKOSKI]
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI]
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Monika ZAJKOVA]
New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Goran MISOVSKI]
Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Dimitar KOVACHEVSKI]
Socialist Party of Macedonia or SPM [Ljupcho DIMOVSKI]
Srpska Stranka in Macedonia or SSM [Miroslav JOVANOVIC]
The Left (Levica) [Dimitar APASIEV]
The People Movement or LP [Skender REXHEPI]
Turkish Democratic Party or TDP [Beycan ILYAS]
Turkish Movement Party or THP [Enes IBRAHIM]" + "text": "Alliance for Albanians or AfA or ASH [Arben TARAVARI]
Alternative (Alternativa) or AAA [Afrim GASHI]
Besa Movement or BESA [Bilal KASAMI]
Citizen Option for Macedonia or GROM [Stefcho JAKIMOVSKI]
Democratic Alliance or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV]
Democratic Movement or LD [Izet MEXHITI]
Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH [Menduh THACI]
Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]
Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM [Maja MORACHANIN]
Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [Ali AHMETI]
European Democratic Party or PDE [Arianit HOXHA]
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Hristijan MICKOSKI]
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI]
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Monika ZAJKOVA]
New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Goran MISOVSKI]
Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Dimitar KOVACHEVSKI]
Socialist Party of Macedonia or SPM [Ljupcho DIMOVSKI]
Srpska Stranka in Macedonia or SSM [Miroslav JOVANOVIC]
The Left (Levica) [Dimitar APASIEV]
The People Movement or LP [Skender REXHEPI]
Turkish Democratic Party or TDP [Beycan ILYAS]
Turkish Movement Party or THP [Enes IBRAHIM]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO", diff --git a/europe/mn.json b/europe/mn.json index 9b1f9376..56f07e6f 100644 --- a/europe/mn.json +++ b/europe/mn.json @@ -778,6 +778,14 @@ "Railways": { "text": "note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service;  the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco" }, + "Merchant marine": { + "total": { + "text": "1 (2023)" + }, + "by type": { + "text": "other types of ships 1" + } + }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Hercules Port" @@ -786,11 +794,11 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "no regular military forces; Ministry of Interior: Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince’s Company of Carabiniers), Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers de Monaco (Fire and Emergency), Police Department (2023)", + "text": "no regular military forces; Ministry of Interior: Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince’s Company of Carabiniers), Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers de Monaco (Fire and Emergency), Police Department (2024)", "note": "note: the primary responsibility for the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is guarding the palace; the Police maintain public order" }, "Military service age and obligation": { - "text": "the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is staffed by French nationals (2023)" + "text": "the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is staffed by French nationals (2024)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "defense is the responsibility of France" diff --git a/europe/nl.json b/europe/nl.json index bc354212..5fc91843 100644 --- a/europe/nl.json +++ b/europe/nl.json @@ -1271,7 +1271,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "53,496 (Syria), 19,204 (Eritrea), 7,106 (Turkey), 5,593 (Iran), 5,152 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 146,715 (Ukraine) (as of 30 November 2023)" + "text": "53,496 (Syria), 19,204 (Eritrea), 7,106 (Turkey), 5,593 (Iran), 5,152 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 146,715 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "4,570 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/no.json b/europe/no.json index fc76c742..2e7c844b 100644 --- a/europe/no.json +++ b/europe/no.json @@ -1232,7 +1232,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "15,901 (Syria), 10,883 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 65,185 (Ukraine) (as of 18 December 2023)" + "text": "15,901 (Syria), 10,883 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 66,965 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "3,901 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/pl.json b/europe/pl.json index 647a37e9..e94dca6d 100644 --- a/europe/pl.json +++ b/europe/pl.json @@ -1243,7 +1243,7 @@ "note": "note 1: Poland has obligated about 2,500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation

note 2: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Poland, have committed additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in the Baltic States and eastern Europe" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "Poland’s geographic location on NATO’s eastern flank and its history of foreign invasion underpin the Polish military’s heavy focus on territorial and border defense and supporting its NATO and EU security commitments; its chief concern is Russian aggression, particularly following Moscow’s seizure of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022, which has led to increased defense spending and modernization efforts, as well as efforts to boost the NATO and US military presence; since 2014, Poland has been hosting several NATO military formations designed to enhance the defense of Poland and NATO’s eastern flank, including a US-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative, NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base, a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania, and a corps-level NATO field headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast); in 2022, the US announced it would establish a permanent corps headquarters in Poland to command US rotational forces in Europe; Poland also participates in a variety of EU and NATO military deployments in Africa, the Baltic States, Southern Europe, and the Middle East; Poland provided considerable support to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, where more than 30,000 military personnel served over a 20-year period before the mission ended in 2021

the Polish military is a professional and volunteer force that exercises regularly, including with NATO partners; it is organized into a General Staff, an Armed Forces General Command, an Armed Forces Operational Command, Territorial Defense Forces (established 2017), Military Police, and the Warsaw Garrison Command;  the Army is comprised of several armored cavalry and mechanized infantry divisions, which are complemented by independent airborne, air mobile, and aviation brigades, as well as armored reconnaissance and artillery regiments ; the active forces are backed up by the Territorial Defense Forces, which have nearly 20 light infantry brigades manned by part-time reserve personnel; the Navy is a compact force for defending Poland's territorial waters, coastline, and its interests abroad, as well as providing support to NATO missions; its principal warships are two frigates, two corvettes, three attack submarines, and a few fast-attack craft; it also has a considerable force of mine warfare vessels, as well as a naval aviation brigade focused on anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrolling; the Air Force has a mix of about 80 Soviet-era and more modern US fighter aircraft; it has more advanced US (F-35s) and South Korean (FA-50s) on order to replace its Soviet-era inventory beginning in 2024; Poland also has a joint special forces command with air, ground, and maritime components (2023)" + "text": "Poland’s geographic location on NATO’s eastern flank and its history of foreign invasion underpin the Polish military’s heavy focus on territorial and border defense and supporting its NATO and EU security commitments; its chief concern is Russian aggression, particularly following Moscow’s seizure of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022, which has led to increased defense spending and modernization efforts, as well as efforts to boost the NATO and US military presence in Poland; since 2014, Poland has been hosting several NATO military formations designed to enhance the defense of Poland and NATO’s eastern flank, including a US-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative, NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base, a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania, and a corps-level NATO field headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast); since 2022, the US has established a permanent corps headquarters in Poland to command US rotational forces in Europe; Poland also participates in a variety of EU and NATO military deployments in Africa, the Baltic States, Southern Europe, and the Middle East; Poland provided considerable support to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, where more than 30,000 military personnel served over a 20-year period before the mission ended in 2021

the Polish military is organized into a General Staff, an Armed Forces General Command, an Armed Forces Operational Command, Territorial Defense Forces (established 2017), Military Police, and the Warsaw Garrison Command; the Army is comprised of several armored cavalry and mechanized infantry divisions, which are complemented by independent airborne, air mobile, and aviation brigades, as well as armored reconnaissance and artillery regiments ; the active forces are backed up by the Territorial Defense Forces, which have nearly 20 light infantry brigades manned by part-time reserve personnel; the Navy is a compact force for defending Poland's territorial waters, coastline, and its interests abroad, as well as providing support to NATO missions; its principal warships are two frigates, two corvettes, three attack submarines, and a few fast-attack craft; it also has a considerable force of mine warfare vessels, as well as a naval aviation brigade focused on anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrolling; the Air Force has a mix of about 80 Soviet-era and more modern US fighter aircraft; it has more advanced US (F-35s) and South Korean (FA-50s) on order to replace its Soviet-era inventory beginning in 2024; Poland also has a joint special forces command with air, ground, and maritime components (2023)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/europe/po.json b/europe/po.json index 5fbfb275..ca45b6db 100644 --- a/europe/po.json +++ b/europe/po.json @@ -1198,7 +1198,7 @@ "note": "note 1: in 2021, Portugal deployed about 80 troops to Mozambique to assist with the EU training mission

note 2: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Portugal, have sent additional troops to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe

note 3: Portugal also participates in several NATO maritime and air policing operations, as well as some EU international missions" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Portuguese military is an all-volunteer and professional force with the primary responsibilities of external defense, humanitarian operations, and fulfilling Portugal’s commitments to European and international security; Portugal was one of the original signers of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 establishing NATO, and the Alliance forms a key pillar of Portugal’s defense policy; Portugal is also a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy, and it regularly participates in a variety of EU, NATO, and UN deployments around the world; the military’s largest commitments include air, ground, and naval forces under NATO-led missions and standing task forces in the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea; the military also participates regularly in exercises with NATO partners 

Portugal has had a standing army since the 1570s; the modern-day Army’s primary combat forces are a heavy mechanized brigade, a light mechanized “intervention” brigade, and a rapid reaction brigade comprised of commandos, paratroopers, and special forces; there are also garrison units in the Azores and Madeira 

Portugal’s Navy is one of the oldest in the world, having been permanently established in in the 1300s, and maritime security has long been a key component of the military’s portfolio; the current Navy has a wide variety of missions in addition to war fighting, such as combating piracy, evacuating national citizens from conflict zones, fishery inspections, maritime interdiction, search and rescue,  providing support to other domestic security agencies, and assisting with scientific research; its principal warships are 11 frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol ships, and two attack-type submarines; the Navy also has a small marine force, which constitutes the Navy’s commando and special operations component 

the Air Force was formed in 1952 although the first flying unit was created in 1911; the current Air Force has about 20 US-made fighter aircraft, as well as reconnaissance and surveillance, maritime patrol, transport, search and rescue, and firefighting fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft (2023)" + "text": "the Portuguese military is an all-volunteer force with the primary responsibilities of external defense, humanitarian operations, and fulfilling Portugal’s commitments to European and international security; Portugal was one of the original signers of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 establishing NATO, and the Alliance forms a key pillar of Portugal’s defense policy; Portugal is also a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy, and it regularly participates in a variety of EU, NATO, and UN deployments around the world; the military’s largest commitments include air, ground, and naval forces under NATO-led missions and standing task forces in the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea; the military also participates regularly in exercises with NATO partners 

Portugal has had a standing army since the 1570s; the modern-day Army’s primary combat forces are a heavy mechanized brigade, a light mechanized “intervention” brigade, and a rapid reaction brigade comprised of commandos, paratroopers, and special forces; there are also garrison units in the Azores and Madeira 

Portugal’s Navy is one of the oldest in the world, having been permanently established in in the 1300s, and maritime security has long been a key component of the military’s portfolio; the current Navy has a wide variety of missions in addition to war fighting, such as combating piracy, evacuating national citizens from conflict zones, fishery inspections, maritime interdiction, search and rescue, providing support to other domestic security agencies, and assisting with scientific research; its principal warships are 11 frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol ships, and two attack-type submarines; the Navy also has a small marine force, which constitutes the Navy’s commando and special operations component 

the Air Force was formed in 1952 although the first flying unit was created in 1911; the current Air Force has about 20 US-made fighter aircraft, as well as reconnaissance and surveillance, maritime patrol, transport, search and rescue, and firefighting fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft (2023)" } }, "Space": { @@ -1225,7 +1225,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "56,995 (Ukraine) (as of 4 June 2023)" + "text": "59,350 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "55 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/ro.json b/europe/ro.json index ebb86d90..176a324e 100644 --- a/europe/ro.json +++ b/europe/ro.json @@ -1255,7 +1255,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "85,710 (Ukraine) (as of 22 January 2024)" + "text": "85,710 (Ukraine) (as of 29 January 2024)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "297 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/si.json b/europe/si.json index 1d8b546e..e6d0b9fb 100644 --- a/europe/si.json +++ b/europe/si.json @@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ } }, "Religions": { - "text": "Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 1%, unaffiliated 3.5%, no response or unspecified 22.8%, none 10.1% (2002 est.)" + "text": "Catholic 69%, Orthodox 4%, Muslim 3%, Christian 1%, other 3%, atheist 14%, non-believer/agnostic 4%, refused to answer 2% (2019 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { diff --git a/europe/sm.json b/europe/sm.json index c2fc3d8a..4a951b16 100644 --- a/europe/sm.json +++ b/europe/sm.json @@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "co-chiefs of state Captains Regent Alessandro SCARANO and Adele TONNINI (for the period 1 April 2023 - 1 October 2023)" + "text": "co-chiefs of state Captains Regent Filippo TAMAGNINI and Gaetano TROINA (for the period 1 October 2023 - 1 April 2024)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Luca BECCARI (since 8 January 2020)" diff --git a/europe/sp.json b/europe/sp.json index 253e2700..5fa6839c 100644 --- a/europe/sp.json +++ b/europe/sp.json @@ -1279,7 +1279,7 @@ }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { - "text": "14,994 (Syria) (mid-year 2022); 438,400 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2022); 185,860 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" + "text": "14,994 (Syria) (mid-year 2022); 438,400 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2022); 199,155 (Ukraine) (as of 31 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "6,489 (2022)" diff --git a/europe/sz.json b/europe/sz.json index 1ddbe196..cc6a9107 100644 --- a/europe/sz.json +++ b/europe/sz.json @@ -551,10 +551,10 @@ "text": "Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 12 December 2023 (next to be held in December 2024)" + "text": "president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 13 December 2023 (next to be held in December 2024)" }, "election results": { - "text": "2023:  Viola AMHERD (The Center) elected president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - 158 of 204; Karin Keller-Sutter (FDP.The Liberals) elected vice president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - 138 of 196

2022:  Alain BERSET elected president for 2023; Federal Assembly vote - Alain BERSET (SP) 140 OF 181; Viola AMHERD elected vice president; Federal assembly vote - 207 of 223



 

" + "text": "2023:  Viola AMHERD elected president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - Viola AMHERD (The Center) 158 of 204; Karin Keller-Sutter (FDP.The Liberals) elected vice president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - 138 of 196

2022:  Alain BERSET elected president for 2023; Federal Assembly vote - Alain BERSET (SP) 140 OF 181; Viola AMHERD elected vice president; Federal assembly vote - 207 of 223



 

" } }, "Legislative branch": { diff --git a/europe/vt.json b/europe/vt.json index 6a42a98c..e0a5b5a1 100644 --- a/europe/vt.json +++ b/europe/vt.json @@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { - "text": "the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) serves as the de facto military force of Vatican City; the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City (Corpo della Gendarmeriais) is a police force that helps augment the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps during the Pope’s appearances, as well as providing general security, traffic direction, and investigative duties for the Vatican City State (2023)", + "text": "the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) serves as the de facto military force of Vatican City; the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City (Corpo della Gendarmeriais) is a police force that helps augment the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps during the Pope’s appearances, as well as providing general security, traffic direction, and investigative duties for the Vatican City State (2024)", "note": "note: the Swiss Guard Corps has protected the Pope and his residence since 1506" }, "Military service age and obligation": { diff --git a/middle-east/aj.json b/middle-east/aj.json index 17ebda19..e2976555 100644 --- a/middle-east/aj.json +++ b/middle-east/aj.json @@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly" }, "elections/appointments": { - "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds (if needed) for a 7-year term; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; election last held on 11 April 2018 (next to be held on 7 February 2024, a snap election); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; note - a constitutional amendment approved in a September 2016 referendum extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years; a separate constitutional amendment approved in the same referendum also introduced the post of first vice president and additional vice-presidents, who are directly appointed by the president; however, no additional vice presidents have been appointed since the constitutional amendment was passed" + "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds (if needed) for a 7-year term; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; election last held on 7 February 2024 (next to be held in 2031); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; note - a constitutional amendment approved in a September 2016 referendum extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years; a separate constitutional amendment approved in the same referendum also introduced the post of first vice president and additional vice-presidents, who are directly appointed by the president; however, no additional vice presidents have been appointed since the constitutional amendment was passed" }, "election results": { "text": "
2024: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 92.1%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 2.2%

2018: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%" @@ -1153,10 +1153,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "309 (2022)" + "text": "312 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 38, oil tanker 44, other 227" + "text": "general cargo 40, oil tanker 44, other 228" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/middle-east/am.json b/middle-east/am.json index 4554381f..c2a2b2bf 100644 --- a/middle-east/am.json +++ b/middle-east/am.json @@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ "text": "last held early on 20 June 2021 (next to be held in June 2026)" }, "election results": { - "text": "percent of vote by party - Civil Contract 53.9%, Armenia Alliance 21%, I Have Honour Alliance 5.2%, other 19.9%; seats by party - Civil Contract 71, Armenia Alliance 29, I Have Honour Alliance 7; composition as of January 2024 - men 68, women 39, percent of women 36.5%" + "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - Civil Contract 53.9%, Armenia Alliance 21%, I Have Honour Alliance 5.2%, other 19.9%; seats by party/coalition - Civil Contract 71, Armenia Alliance 29, I Have Honour Alliance 7; composition as of January 2024 - men 68, women 39, percent of women 36.5%" } }, "Judicial branch": { diff --git a/middle-east/ba.json b/middle-east/ba.json index b20ac65e..750d06e8 100644 --- a/middle-east/ba.json +++ b/middle-east/ba.json @@ -1118,10 +1118,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "190 (2022)" + "text": "184 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 11, oil tanker 3, other 176" + "text": "general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/middle-east/gg.json b/middle-east/gg.json index dcc15477..b307d95a 100644 --- a/middle-east/gg.json +++ b/middle-east/gg.json @@ -1141,15 +1141,15 @@ }, "Roadways": { "total": { - "text": "20,295 km (2018)" + "text": "40,044 km (2021)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "24 (2022)" + "text": "26 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 3, other 21" + "text": "general cargo 3, other 23" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/middle-east/gz.json b/middle-east/gz.json index 5d1de875..d27f5f71 100644 --- a/middle-east/gz.json +++ b/middle-east/gz.json @@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ "text": "1.6 million (Palestinian refugees) (2022)" }, "IDPs": { - "text": "1.7 million (as of 26 January 2024, since HAMAS's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023)

1.6 million (includes persons displaced within the Gaza Strip due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict between June 2014 and 7 October 2023 and other Palestinian IDPs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank who fled as long ago as 1967, although confirmed cumulative data do not go back beyond 2006) (2022)" + "text": "1.7 million or approximately 75% of the population (as of 26 January 2024, since HAMAS's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023)

1.6 million (includes persons displaced within the Gaza Strip due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict between June 2014 and 7 October 2023 and other Palestinian IDPs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank who fled as long ago as 1967, although confirmed cumulative data do not go back beyond 2006) (2022)" } } } diff --git a/middle-east/ir.json b/middle-east/ir.json index 34af1560..7a92d6e9 100644 --- a/middle-east/ir.json +++ b/middle-east/ir.json @@ -1167,10 +1167,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "942 (2022)" + "text": "965 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 32, container ship 31, general cargo 393, oil tanker 83, other 403" + "text": "bulk carrier 32, container ship 28, general cargo 398, oil tanker 86, other 421" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1242,7 +1242,7 @@ }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { - "text": "

Iran-Afghanistan: Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought; Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey

Iran-Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Russia: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified a Caspian seabed delimitation treaty in 2018 based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea

Iran-Iraq: Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf

Iran-Kuwait: dispute over undemarcated maritime border and Al Durra offshore gasfield in the Arabian/Persian Gulf 

Iran-UAE: Iran and UAE dispute the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa islands, which are occupied by Iran; Iran has conducted military drills on and around the disputed islands

Caspian Sea (Maritime Boundary): Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea

" + "text": "

Iran-Afghanistan: Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought; Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey

Iran-Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Russia: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified a Caspian seabed delimitation treaty in 2018 based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea

Iran-Iraq: Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf

Iran-Kuwait: dispute over undemarcated maritime border and al Durra offshore gas field in the Arabian/Persian Gulf; talks continued as of 2023; in 2022, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia signed a joint agreement to develop the field despite objections from Iran, which described the deal as illegal

Iran-UAE: Iran and UAE dispute the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa islands, which are occupied by Iran; Iran has conducted military drills on and around the disputed islands

Caspian Sea (Maritime Boundary): Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea

" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { diff --git a/middle-east/is.json b/middle-east/is.json index f04ff8ec..7edaaaa8 100644 --- a/middle-east/is.json +++ b/middle-east/is.json @@ -1174,10 +1174,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "45 (2022)" + "text": "41 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ship 6, general cargo 2, oil tanker 4, other 33" + "text": "container ship 4, general cargo 1, oil tanker 4, other 32" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/middle-east/iz.json b/middle-east/iz.json index 04b5dd19..024ce888 100644 --- a/middle-east/iz.json +++ b/middle-east/iz.json @@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { - "text": "President Latif RASHID (since 13 October 2022; vice presidents (vacant)" + "text": "President Latif RASHID (since 13 October 2022); vice presidents (vacant)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-SUDANI (since 27 October 2022)" @@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ } }, "Agricultural products": { - "text": "wheat, barley, dates, tomatoes, rice, maize, grapes, potatoes, rice, watermelons" + "text": "wheat, barley, dates, tomatoes, rice, maize, grapes, potatoes, watermelons" }, "Industries": { "text": "petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing" @@ -1160,10 +1160,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "75 (2022)" + "text": "74 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 1, oil tanker 7, other 67" + "text": "general cargo 1, oil tanker 6, other 67" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/middle-east/jo.json b/middle-east/jo.json index ea78b06f..508a556a 100644 --- a/middle-east/jo.json +++ b/middle-east/jo.json @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ { "Introduction": { "Background": { - "text": "

Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations awarded Britain the mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain demarcated a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in 1921 and recognized ABDALLAH I from the Hashemite family as the country's first leader. The Hashemites also controlled the Hijaz, or the western coastal area of modern-day Saudi Arabia until 1925, when they were pushed out by IBN SAUD and Wahhabi tribes. The country gained its independence in 1946 and thereafter became The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The country has had four kings. Jordan's long-time ruler, King HUSSEIN (r. 1953-99), successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and Palestinian militants, the latter of which led to a brief civil war in 1970 referred to as \"Black September\" and ended in King HUSSEIN's ouster of the militants from Jordan.

Jordan's borders also have changed since it gained independence. In 1948, Jordan took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the first Arab-Israeli War, eventually annexing those territories in 1950 and granting its new Palestinian residents Jordanian citizenship. In 1967, Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem to Israel in the Six-Day War but retained administrative claims to the West Bank until 1988 when King HUSSEIN permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank in favor of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). King HUSSEIN signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, after Israel and the PLO signed the Oslo Accords in 1993.

Jordanian kings continue to claim custodianship of the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem by virtue of their Hashemite heritage as descendants of the Prophet Mohammad and agreements with Israel and Jerusalem-based religious and Palestinian leaders. After Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 War, it authorized the Jordanian-controlled Islamic Trust, or Waqf, to continue administering affairs at the Al Haram ash Sharif/Temple Mount holy compound, and the Jordan-Israel peace treaty reaffirmed Jordan's \"special role\" in administering the Muslim holy shrines in Jerusalem. Jordanian kings claim custodianship of the Christian sites in Jerusalem on the basis of the 7th-century Pact of Omar, when the Muslim leader, after conquering Jerusalem, agreed to permit Christian worship.

King HUSSEIN died in 1999 and was succeeded by his eldest son, ABDALLAH II, who remains the current king. In 2009, King ABDALLAH II designated his son HUSSEIN as the Crown Prince. During his reign, ABDALLAH II has contended with a series of challenges, including the Arab Spring influx of refugees from neighboring states, the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of the war in Ukraine, and a perennially weak economy.

 

" + "text": "

Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations awarded Britain the mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain demarcated a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in 1921 and recognized ABDALLAH I from the Hashemite family as the country's first leader. The Hashemites also controlled the Hijaz, or the western coastal area of modern-day Saudi Arabia until 1925, when they were pushed out by IBN SAUD and Wahhabi tribes. The country gained its independence in 1946 and thereafter became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The country has had four kings. Jordan's long-time ruler, King HUSSEIN (r. 1953-99), successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and Palestinian militants, the latter of which led to a brief civil war in 1970 referred to as \"Black September\" and ended in King HUSSEIN's ouster of the militants from Jordan.

Jordan's borders also have changed since it gained independence. In 1948, Jordan took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the first Arab-Israeli War, eventually annexing those territories in 1950 and granting its new Palestinian residents Jordanian citizenship. In 1967, Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem to Israel in the Six-Day War but retained administrative claims to the West Bank until 1988 when King HUSSEIN permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank in favor of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). King HUSSEIN signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, after Israel and the PLO signed the Oslo Accords in 1993.

Jordanian kings continue to claim custodianship of the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem by virtue of their Hashemite heritage as descendants of the Prophet Mohammad and agreements with Israel and Jerusalem-based religious and Palestinian leaders. After Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 War, it authorized the Jordanian-controlled Islamic Trust, or Waqf, to continue administering affairs at the Al Haram ash Sharif/Temple Mount holy compound, and the Jordan-Israel peace treaty reaffirmed Jordan's \"special role\" in administering the Muslim holy shrines in Jerusalem. Jordanian kings claim custodianship of the Christian sites in Jerusalem on the basis of the 7th-century Pact of Omar, when the Muslim leader, after conquering Jerusalem, agreed to permit Christian worship.

King HUSSEIN died in 1999 and was succeeded by his eldest son, ABDALLAH II, who remains the current king. In 2009, King ABDALLAH II designated his son HUSSEIN as the Crown Prince. During his reign, ABDALLAH II has contended with a series of challenges, including the Arab Spring influx of refugees from neighboring states, the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of the war in Ukraine, and a perennially weak economy.

 

" } }, "Geography": { @@ -1166,10 +1166,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "35 (2022)" + "text": "34 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 6, other 29" + "text": "general cargo 5, other 29" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/middle-east/ku.json b/middle-east/ku.json index 5ae78a73..d7c6063b 100644 --- a/middle-east/ku.json +++ b/middle-east/ku.json @@ -1106,10 +1106,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "166 (2022)" + "text": "176 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 15, oil tanker 29, other 122" + "text": "general cargo 15, oil tanker 28, other 133" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/middle-east/le.json b/middle-east/le.json index 65c41e49..45a16caf 100644 --- a/middle-east/le.json +++ b/middle-east/le.json @@ -1143,10 +1143,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "49 (2022)" + "text": "51 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 2, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 14" + "text": "bulk carrier 2, container ship 1, general cargo 30, oil tanker 1, other 17" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/middle-east/qa.json b/middle-east/qa.json index c692f9b8..18f06833 100644 --- a/middle-east/qa.json +++ b/middle-east/qa.json @@ -1166,7 +1166,7 @@ "note": "note 1: the military incorporates about 2,000 conscripts annually

note 2: Qatar recruits foreign contract soldiers to overcome manpower limitations" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the QAF is a small, well-equipped, and trained force that is responsible for defense against external threats; following the downturn in ties with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in the mid-2010s, the Qatari Government embarked on a major arms acquisition and modernization program to increase the QAF’s capabilities and regional standing; the Air Force has benefited the most, growing from an inventory of 12 older combat aircraft and a few fighter trainers in 2017 to a current inventory of about 60 modern multirole fighter aircraft from France, the UK, and the US; it is slated to grow to about 100 such aircraft by the mid-2020s; other aircraft acquisitions have included US attack helicopters; the Land Force has re-equipped its armored brigade and separate mechanized and artillery battalions with modern tanks, armored vehicles, and self-propelled artillery, mostly with purchases from Germany and Turkey; meanwhile, the Navy over the same period has received 4 corvettes and 4 offshore patrol vessels from Italy and Turkey

Qatar hosts the regional headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM; established 1983) and more than 8,000 US military forces at various military facilities, including the large Al Udeid Air Base; it has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Qatar also hosts thousands of Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019 (2023)" + "text": "the QAF is a small and well-equipped force that is responsible for defense against external threats; following the downturn in ties with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in the mid-2010s, the Qatari Government embarked on a major arms acquisition and modernization program to increase the QAF’s capabilities and regional standing; the Air Force has benefited the most, growing from an inventory of 12 older combat aircraft and a few fighter trainers in 2017 to a current inventory of about 60 modern multirole fighter aircraft from France, the UK, and the US; it is slated to grow to about 100 such aircraft by the mid-2020s; other aircraft acquisitions have included US attack helicopters; the Land Force has re-equipped its armored brigade and separate mechanized and artillery battalions with modern tanks, armored vehicles, and self-propelled artillery, mostly with purchases from Germany and Turkey; meanwhile, the Navy over the same period has received four corvettes and four offshore patrol vessels from Italy and Turkey

Qatar hosts the regional headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM; established 1983) and more than 8,000 US military forces at various military facilities, including the large Al Udeid Air Base; it has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Qatar also hosts thousands of Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019 (2023)" } }, "Terrorism": { diff --git a/middle-east/sy.json b/middle-east/sy.json index 142086c6..fff50abd 100644 --- a/middle-east/sy.json +++ b/middle-east/sy.json @@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ "stateless persons": { "text": "160,000 (2022); note - Syria's stateless population consists of Kurds and Palestinians; stateless persons are prevented from voting, owning land, holding certain jobs, receiving food subsidies or public healthcare, enrolling in public schools, or being legally married to Syrian citizens; in 1962, some 120,000 Syrian Kurds were stripped of their Syrian citizenship, rendering them and their descendants stateless; in 2011, the Syrian Government granted citizenship to thousands of Syrian Kurds as a means of appeasement; however, resolving the question of statelessness is not a priority given Syria's ongoing civil war" }, - "note": "note: the ongoing civil war has resulted in more than 5.1 million registered Syrian refugees - dispersed mainly in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey - as of January 2024" + "note": "note: the ongoing civil war has resulted in nearl 5.1 million registered Syrian refugees - dispersed mainly in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey - as of February 2024" }, "Trafficking in persons": { "tier rating": { diff --git a/north-america/bd.json b/north-america/bd.json index e710bf7f..8b3f3072 100644 --- a/north-america/bd.json +++ b/north-america/bd.json @@ -961,10 +961,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "135 (2022)" + "text": "122 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ship 14, oil tanker 15, other 106" + "text": "container ship 15, oil tanker 8, other 99" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/north-america/ca.json b/north-america/ca.json index 7bd9806d..d38f649c 100644 --- a/north-america/ca.json +++ b/north-america/ca.json @@ -1219,10 +1219,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "689 (2022)" + "text": "716 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 21, container ship 1, general cargo 65, oil tanker 15, other 587" + "text": "bulk carrier 22, container ship 1, general cargo 78, oil tanker 15, other 600" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/north-america/gl.json b/north-america/gl.json index 0fa4dc4a..e8676527 100644 --- a/north-america/gl.json +++ b/north-america/gl.json @@ -920,10 +920,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "6 (2022)" + "text": "10 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "other 6" + "text": "other 10" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/north-america/us.json b/north-america/us.json index a27c98c1..35b4eb10 100644 --- a/north-america/us.json +++ b/north-america/us.json @@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { - "text": "24 (11 cultural, 12 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Puerto Rico" + "text": "25 (12 cultural, 12 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Puerto Rico" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Yellowstone National Park (n); Grand Canyon National Park (n); Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (c); Independence Hall (c); Statue of Liberty (c); Yosemite National Park (n); Papahānaumokuākea (m); Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (c); The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (c); Mesa Verde National Park (c); Mammoth Cave National Park (n); Monticello (c); Olympic National Park (n)" @@ -1272,7 +1272,7 @@ "text": "has nearly 20 commercial, government, and private space ports hosting Federal Aviation Administration-licensed activity spread across 10 states (Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia) (2023)" }, "Space program overview": { - "text": "has a large and comprehensive space program and is one of the world’s top space powers; builds, launches, and operates space launch vehicles (SLVs)/rockets and the full spectrum of spacecraft, including interplanetary probes, manned craft, reusable rockets, satellites, space stations, and space planes; has an astronaut program and a large corps of astronauts; researching and developing a broad range of other space-related capabilities and technologies, such as advanced telecommunications and optics, navigational aids, propulsion, robotics, solar sails, space-based manufacturing, and robotic satellite repair/refueling; has launched orbital or lander probes to the Sun and all planets in the solar system, as well as to asteroids and beyond the solar system; has international missions and projects with dozens of countries and organizations, including such major partners as Canada, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, as well as the European Space Agency (ESA), the EU, and their individual member states; most recently, over 30 countries have signed onto the US Artemis Accords (as of late 2023), whose purpose is to establish principles, guidelines, and best practices to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space with the intention of advancing the Artemis Program, an international effort to establish a sustainable and robust presence on the Moon and an onward human mission to Mars; the US commercial space industry is one of the world’s largest and most capable and is active across the entire spectrum of US government space programs; the majority of both NASA and US military space launches are conducted by US commercial companies; the US space economy was valued at over $200 billion in 2021 (2023)", + "text": "has a large and comprehensive space program and is one of the world’s top space powers; builds, launches, and operates space launch vehicles (SLVs)/rockets and the full spectrum of spacecraft, including interplanetary probes, manned craft, reusable rockets, satellites, space stations, and space planes; has an astronaut program and a large corps of astronauts; researching and developing a broad range of other space-related capabilities and technologies, such as advanced telecommunications and optics, navigational aids, propulsion, robotics, solar sails, space-based manufacturing, and robotic satellite repair/refueling; has launched orbital or lander probes to the Sun and all planets in the solar system, as well as to asteroids and beyond the solar system; has international missions and projects with dozens of countries and organizations, including such major partners as Canada, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, as well as the European Space Agency (ESA), the EU, and their individual member states; as of early 2024, 35 countries had signed onto the US-led Artemis Accords, whose purpose is to establish principles, guidelines, and best practices to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space with the intention of advancing the Artemis Program, an international effort to establish a sustainable and robust presence on the Moon and an onward human mission to Mars; the US commercial space industry is one of the world’s largest and most capable and is active across the entire spectrum of US government space programs; the majority of both NASA and US military space launches are conducted by US commercial companies; the US space economy was valued at over $200 billion in 2021 (2024)", "note": "note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S" } }, diff --git a/oceans/zn.json b/oceans/zn.json index 49a56578..6840c798 100644 --- a/oceans/zn.json +++ b/oceans/zn.json @@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ }, "Military and Security": { "Military - note": { - "text": "according to the International Maritime Bureau, the risk for piracy and armed robbery in the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea is high,particularly the Singapore Straits and the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia (2023)" + "text": "according to the International Maritime Bureau, the risk for piracy and armed robbery in the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea is high, particularly the Singapore Straits and the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia (2023)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { diff --git a/south-america/ar.json b/south-america/ar.json index e0eb7a2b..28829b43 100644 --- a/south-america/ar.json +++ b/south-america/ar.json @@ -1194,13 +1194,13 @@ }, "Roadways": { "total": { - "text": "281,290 km" + "text": "240,000 km" }, "paved": { - "text": "117,616 km" + "text": "81,355 km" }, "unpaved": { - "text": "163,674 km (2017)" + "text": "158,645 km (2017)" } }, "Waterways": { @@ -1208,10 +1208,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "203 (2022)" + "text": "201 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ship 1, bulk carrier 1 general cargo 8, oil tanker 33, other 160" + "text": "container ship 1, bulk carrier 1 general cargo 8, oil tanker 33, other 158" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/south-america/bl.json b/south-america/bl.json index cdd2f72d..f2accdc1 100644 --- a/south-america/bl.json +++ b/south-america/bl.json @@ -1197,10 +1197,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "46 (2022)" + "text": "50 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 29, oil tanker 3, other 14" + "text": "general cargo 30, oil tanker 2, other 18" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/south-america/br.json b/south-america/br.json index c7014f82..335512be 100644 --- a/south-america/br.json +++ b/south-america/br.json @@ -1257,10 +1257,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "877 (2022)" + "text": "888 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 11, container ship 20, general cargo 40, oil tanker 27, other 779" + "text": "bulk carrier 13, container ship 20, general cargo 38, oil tanker 27, other 790" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/south-america/ci.json b/south-america/ci.json index afa8ca50..f487fcaa 100644 --- a/south-america/ci.json +++ b/south-america/ci.json @@ -1158,10 +1158,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "239 (2022)" + "text": "249 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 4, container ship 5, general cargo 64, oil tanker 14, other 152" + "text": "bulk carrier 3, container ship 5, general cargo 66, oil tanker 14, other 161" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/south-america/co.json b/south-america/co.json index 0d59f901..d4d6e619 100644 --- a/south-america/co.json +++ b/south-america/co.json @@ -1183,10 +1183,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "148 (2022)" + "text": "153 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "general cargo 28, oil tanker 12, other 108" + "text": "general cargo 28, oil tanker 13, other 112" } }, "Ports and terminals": { @@ -1243,7 +1243,7 @@ "text": "275 Egypt (MFO) (2023)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Colombian military is responsible for defending and maintaining the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity but also has an internal security role, which includes protecting the civilian population, as well as private and state-owned assets, and ensuring a secure environment; the military’s primary focus is the conduct of counternarcotics, counterterrorism, and counterinsurgency operations against drug traffickers, several factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the insurgent/terrorist group National Liberation Army (ELN); the Colombian Government signed a peace agreement with the FARC in 2016, but some former members (known as dissidents) have returned to fighting (note - these dissident groups include the US-designated foreign terrorist groups Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army or FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia; see Appendix T); since 2017, the Colombian Government has had periodic cease-fire and peace discussions with ELN and the FARC dissidents with varying degrees of success

the military is also focused on the security challenges posed by its neighbor, Venezuela, where instability has attracted narcotics traffickers, and both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly; Colombia shares a 1,370-mile (2,200 km) border with Venezuela; ELN and FARC insurgents have also used neighboring Ecuador to rest, resupply, and shelter

the Colombian National Army is one of the largest and most experienced ground forces in the Western Hemisphere, having spent decades conducting operations against insurgents and terrorist groups; it has also kept a small battalion (about 250-300 troops) in the Sinai Peninsula with the Multinational Observer Force since 1980; the Army’s primary focus is ongoing operations against the ELN, FARC dissidents, and other illegal armed groups, which are challenged by difficult topography and long and porous land borders; the Air Force and Navy play a role in the counterinsurgency campaign but their participation is minor in comparison to the Army; the Army is largely configured for flexibility and mobility, with one mechanized and seven light infantry divisions; the light infantry divisions are not uniformly structured and typically include a mix of conventional infantry and specialized air mobile, counterinsurgency, jungle, mountain, and security brigades; some divisions may also have special task forces for anti-kidnapping, counternarcotics, or urban operations; the Army also has a special forces division, a rapid deployment force (Fuerza de Despliegue Rápido or FUDRA) comprised of special forces and counterinsurgency brigades, and an air assault division with aviation and light infantry/air mobile forces; the National Police works with the Army against illegal armed groups and has a variety of specialized forces, including commandos, quick reaction, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, motorized, and anti-riot (Escuadron Móvil Antidisturbios, or ESMAD) units 

the Navy is responsible for security in Colombia’s waters in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Oceans, the country’s extensive network of rivers, and a few small land areas under its direct jurisdiction; it takes part in multinational naval exercises, and over the past decade has undertaken efforts to modernize; its principal warships are a mix of 10 frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol ships, and four attack submarines, which are supplemented by dozens of coastal and riverine patrol craft; the Navy also has a 22,000-man marine force comprised of five marine/riverine infantry brigades and a special forces brigade, as well as a small aviation force; the Air Force has an air defense role, but also supports the Army’s counterinsurgency operations; it has a mix of about 50 fighters and ground attack combat aircraft, plus reconnaissance, electronic warfare, logistical, and training fixed-wing aircraft, as well as approximately 100 multirole helicopters 

Colombia has close security ties with the US, including joint training, military assistance, and designation in 2022 as a Major Non-NATO Ally, which provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense, trade, and security cooperation; it also has close ties with some regional neighbors, such as Argentina, Chile, and Peru; Colombian military and security forces have training programs with their counterparts from a variety of countries, mostly those from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean; security ties with Ecuador and Venezuela have been challenged by the presence of narcotics traffickers, ELN, and FARC dissidents in the border regions (2023)" + "text": "the Colombian military is responsible for defending and maintaining the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity but also has an internal security role, which includes protecting the civilian population, as well as private and state-owned assets, and ensuring a secure environment; the military’s primary focus is the conduct of counternarcotics, counterterrorism, and counterinsurgency operations against drug traffickers, several factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the insurgent/terrorist group National Liberation Army (ELN); the Colombian Government signed a peace agreement with the FARC in 2016, but some former members (known as dissidents) have returned to fighting (note - these dissident groups include the US-designated foreign terrorist groups Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army or FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia; see Appendix T); since 2017, the Colombian Government has had periodic cease-fire and peace discussions with ELN and the FARC dissidents with varying degrees of success; in 2023, the ELN and the Colombian Government agreed to a 6-month ceasefire, which was extended for another 6 months in February 2024; and as part of the cease-fire, ELN had pledged to cease kidnappings for ransom

the military is also focused on the security challenges posed by its neighbor, Venezuela, where instability has attracted narcotics traffickers, and both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly; Colombia shares a 1,370-mile (2,200 km) border with Venezuela; ELN and FARC insurgents have also used neighboring Ecuador to rest, resupply, and shelter

the Colombian National Army is one of the largest and most experienced ground forces in the Western Hemisphere, having spent decades conducting operations against insurgents and terrorist groups; it has also kept a small battalion (about 250-300 troops) in the Sinai Peninsula with the Multinational Observer Force since 1980; the Army’s primary focus is ongoing operations against the ELN, FARC dissidents, and other illegal armed groups, which are challenged by difficult topography and long and porous land borders; the Air Force and Navy play a role in the counterinsurgency campaign but their participation is minor in comparison to the Army; the Army is largely configured for flexibility and mobility, with one mechanized and seven light infantry divisions; the light infantry divisions are not uniformly structured and typically include a mix of conventional infantry and specialized air mobile, counterinsurgency, jungle, mountain, and security brigades; some divisions may also have special task forces for anti-kidnapping, counternarcotics, or urban operations; the Army also has a special forces division, a rapid deployment force (Fuerza de Despliegue Rápido or FUDRA) comprised of special forces and counterinsurgency brigades, and an air assault division with aviation and light infantry/air mobile forces; the National Police works with the Army against illegal armed groups and has a variety of specialized forces, including commandos, quick reaction, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, motorized, and anti-riot (Escuadron Móvil Antidisturbios, or ESMAD) units 

the Navy is responsible for security in Colombia’s waters in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Oceans, the country’s extensive network of rivers, and a few small land areas under its direct jurisdiction; it takes part in multinational naval exercises, and over the past decade has undertaken efforts to modernize; its principal warships are a mix of 10 frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol ships, and four attack submarines, which are supplemented by dozens of coastal and riverine patrol craft; the Navy also has a 22,000-man marine force comprised of five marine/riverine infantry brigades and a special forces brigade, as well as a small aviation force; the Air Force has an air defense role, but also supports the Army’s counterinsurgency operations; it has a mix of about 50 fighters and ground attack combat aircraft, plus reconnaissance, electronic warfare, logistical, and training fixed-wing aircraft, as well as approximately 100 multirole helicopters 

Colombia has close security ties with the US, including joint training, military assistance, and designation in 2022 as a Major Non-NATO Ally, which provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense, trade, and security cooperation; it also has close ties with some regional neighbors, such as Argentina, Chile, and Peru; Colombian military and security forces have training programs with their counterparts from a variety of countries, mostly those from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean; security ties with Ecuador and Venezuela have been challenged by the presence of narcotics traffickers, ELN, and FARC dissidents in the border regions (2023)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/south-america/ec.json b/south-america/ec.json index 3dd4c8f4..0deea06c 100644 --- a/south-america/ec.json +++ b/south-america/ec.json @@ -1178,10 +1178,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "147 (2022)" + "text": "154 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 28, other 110" + "text": "container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 28, other 117" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/south-america/fk.json b/south-america/fk.json index d9611bdb..d6582354 100644 --- a/south-america/fk.json +++ b/south-america/fk.json @@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "2 (2022)" + "text": "2 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 1, other 1" diff --git a/south-america/gy.json b/south-america/gy.json index a76529e5..bd9024ff 100644 --- a/south-america/gy.json +++ b/south-america/gy.json @@ -1096,10 +1096,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "89 (2022)" + "text": "80 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 1, general cargo 45, oil tanker 12, other 31" + "text": "general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/south-america/pa.json b/south-america/pa.json index 4f4770e3..59dab0a1 100644 --- a/south-america/pa.json +++ b/south-america/pa.json @@ -1193,7 +1193,7 @@ "note": "note: as of 2021, women made up about 6% of the active military" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Paraguayan military is responsible for external defense but also has some domestic security duties; while the National Police are responsible for maintaining internal security, the military works with the police through a Joint Task Force (aka Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta or FTC) in combatting the Paraguayan People’s Army (Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo or EPP) and transnational criminal organizations; the military has an Internal Defense Operations Command (Comando de Defensa Interna or CODI), which includes the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to coordinate internal security support to the police and other security organizations, such as the National Anti-Drug Secretariat or SENAD

the EPP is a domestic criminal/guerrilla group initially dedicated to a Marxist-Leninist revolution in Paraguay that operates in the rural northern part of the country along the border with Brazil; the activities of the EPP and its offshoots—Marsical López’s Army (EML) and the Armed Peasant Association (ACA)—have consisted largely of isolated attacks on remote police and army posts, or against ranchers and peasants accused of aiding Paraguayan security forces

the military is a small force by regional standards, and its limited equipment inventory is largely obsolete, with some of it pre-dating World War II; it has deployed small numbers of troops on UN missions and cooperates with neighboring countries, such as Argentina and Brazil, on security issues, particularly organized crime and narco-trafficking in what is known as the Tri-Border Area; Paraguay has not fought a war against a neighboring country since the Chaco War with Bolivia in the 1930s; formally established in 1811, the Army has 9 divisions of infantry and cavalry, but each division is reportedly about the size of a US battalion or 500-1,000 troops; there is also a presidential guard regiment; the Navy is a riverine force that has some of the oldest operational warships in the World, as well as a small marine infantry force; the Air Force has a single combat squadron with a handful of light ground attack/trainer aircraft  (2023)" + "text": "the Paraguayan military is responsible for external defense but also has some domestic security duties; while the National Police are responsible for maintaining internal security, the military works with the police through a Joint Task Force (aka Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta or FTC) in combatting the Paraguayan People’s Army (Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo or EPP) and transnational criminal organizations; the military has an Internal Defense Operations Command (Comando de Defensa Interna or CODI), which includes the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to coordinate internal security support to the police and other security organizations, such as the National Anti-Drug Secretariat or SENAD

the EPP is a domestic criminal/guerrilla group initially dedicated to a Marxist-Leninist revolution in Paraguay that operates in the rural northern part of the country along the border with Brazil; the activities of the EPP and its offshoots—Marsical López’s Army (EML) and the Armed Peasant Association (ACA)—have consisted largely of isolated attacks on remote police and army posts, or against ranchers and peasants accused of aiding Paraguayan security forces

the military is a small force by regional standards, and its limited equipment inventory is largely obsolete, with some of it pre-dating World War II; it has deployed small numbers of troops on UN missions and cooperates with neighboring countries, such as Argentina and Brazil, on security issues, particularly organized crime and narco-trafficking in what is known as the Tri-Border Area; Paraguay has not fought a war against a neighboring country since the Chaco War with Bolivia in the 1930s; formally established in 1811, the Army has nine divisions of infantry and cavalry, but each division is reportedly about the size of a US battalion or 500-1,000 troops; there is also a presidential guard regiment; the Navy is a riverine force that has some of the oldest operational warships in the World, as well as a small marine infantry force; the Air Force has a single combat squadron with a handful of light ground attack/trainer aircraft (2023)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/south-america/pe.json b/south-america/pe.json index a09798c5..7fb5d9f4 100644 --- a/south-america/pe.json +++ b/south-america/pe.json @@ -1267,7 +1267,7 @@ "text": "225 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2023)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Peruvian Armed Forces (FAP) are responsible for external security in addition to some domestic security responsibilities in designated emergency areas and in exceptional circumstances; key areas of focus include counterinsurgency, counternarcotics, disaster relief, and maritime security operations; the FAP trains regularly and participates in both bilateral and multinational exercises; it has contributed to UN missions since 1958 and has ties to regional militaries, particularly Colombia, as well as those of numerous other countries such as China, Russia, Spain, and the US; the FAP’s last external conflict was a brief border war with Ecuador in 1995; the FAP supported the police during anti-government protests in early 2023 and was accused of human rights violations 

the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru (Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas del Perú or CCFFAA) has responsibility for the planning, preparation, coordination, and direction of the military’s operations; the CCFFAA has oversight over commands for air, air defense, cyber, maritime, and special operations, as well as five regional commands (Amazonas, central, north, south, and Ucayali) and a Special Command of the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers (CE-VRAEM); CE-VRAEM is responsible for combating the remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group (aka Sendero Luminoso; see Appendix T) and includes several thousand air, ground, naval, police, and special forces personnel; the FAP also provides aircraft, vehicles, and logistical support to the command  

the Army was officially established in 1821 with the formation of the Peruvian Guard Legion; it has five regionally based divisions comprised of about 20 combat brigades, which include a mix of armored, artillery, jungle infantry, light infantry, mechanized cavalry, and special forces; the Army also has an aviation brigade and a multi-purpose support brigade designed in large part to provide assistance during natural disasters; the Navy, also established in 1821, includes the Coast Guard; it has undertaken efforts to modernize since the 2000s; the Navy’s warships include seven frigates, 15 corvettes and patrol ships, and six attack submarines; it also has a flotilla of river gunboats, plus naval aviation and a marine force comprised of amphibious infantry, light infantry, jungle infantry, and commandos; the Air Force, established in the 1920s, has several squadrons of French-, Russian-, and US-made fighters, multirole fighters, and fixed-wing ground attack aircraft, as well as attack helicopters (2023)" + "text": "the Peruvian Armed Forces (FAP) are responsible for external security in addition to some domestic security responsibilities in designated emergency areas and in exceptional circumstances; key areas of focus include counterinsurgency, counternarcotics, disaster relief, and maritime security operations; the FAP has contributed to UN missions since 1958 and has ties to regional militaries, particularly Colombia, as well as those of numerous other countries such as China, Russia, Spain, and the US; the FAP’s last external conflict was a brief border war with Ecuador in 1995; the FAP supported the police during anti-government protests in early 2023 and was accused of human rights violations 

the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru (Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas del Perú or CCFFAA) has responsibility for the planning, preparation, coordination, and direction of the military’s operations; the CCFFAA has oversight over commands for air, air defense, cyber, maritime, and special operations, as well as five regional commands (Amazonas, central, north, south, and Ucayali) and a Special Command of the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers (CE-VRAEM); CE-VRAEM is responsible for combating the remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group (aka Sendero Luminoso; see Appendix T) and includes several thousand air, ground, naval, police, and special forces personnel; the FAP also provides aircraft, vehicles, and logistical support to the command  

the Army was officially established in 1821 with the formation of the Peruvian Guard Legion; today, it has five regionally based divisions comprised of about 20 combat brigades, which include a mix of armored, artillery, jungle infantry, light infantry, mechanized cavalry, and special forces; the Army also has an aviation brigade and a multi-purpose support brigade designed in large part to provide assistance during natural disasters; the Navy, also established in 1821, includes the Coast Guard; it has undertaken efforts to modernize since the 2000s; the Navy’s principal warships include seven frigates and six attack submarines, which are supported by a force of corvettes and patrol ships; it also has a flotilla of river gunboats, plus naval aviation and a marine force comprised of amphibious infantry, light infantry, jungle infantry, and commandos; the Air Force, established in the 1920s, has several squadrons of French-, Russian-, and US-made fighters, multirole fighters, and fixed-wing ground attack aircraft, as well as attack helicopters (2023)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/south-asia/bg.json b/south-asia/bg.json index 3c013b78..0cc70138 100644 --- a/south-asia/bg.json +++ b/south-asia/bg.json @@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ "text": "president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 13 February 2023 (next to be held by 2028); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament" }, "election results": { - "text": "President Mohammad Shahabuddin CHUPPI (AL) elected unopposed by the National Parliament; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister to a fourth term following the 7 January 2024 parliamentary election" + "text": "President Mohammad Shahabuddin CHUPPI (AL) elected unopposed by the National Parliament; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister for a fourth term following the 7 January 2024 parliamentary election" } }, "Legislative branch": { @@ -1226,10 +1226,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "511 (2022)" + "text": "558 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 56, container ship 10, general cargo 150, oil tanker 152, other 143" + "text": "bulk carrier 68, container ship 10, general cargo 170, oil tanker 162, other 148" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/south-asia/in.json b/south-asia/in.json index 1d5d2566..b686d9b4 100644 --- a/south-asia/in.json +++ b/south-asia/in.json @@ -1246,10 +1246,10 @@ }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { - "text": "1,810 (2022)" + "text": "1,859 (2023)" }, "by type": { - "text": "bulk carrier 65, container ship 23, general cargo 594, oil tanker 134, other 994" + "text": "bulk carrier 66, container ship 22, general cargo 607, oil tanker 144, other 1020" } }, "Ports and terminals": { diff --git a/south-asia/pk.json b/south-asia/pk.json index 9cc72055..482cf82b 100644 --- a/south-asia/pk.json +++ b/south-asia/pk.json @@ -584,10 +584,10 @@ "text": "President Arif ALVI (since 9 September 2018)" }, "head of government": { - "text": "Interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq KAKAR (since 14 August 2023); caretaker cabinet (since 17 August 2023)" + "text": "Interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq KAKAR (since 14 August 2023)" }, "cabinet": { - "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister" + "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister; caretaker cabinet (since 17 August 2023)" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "president indirectly elected by the Electoral College consisting of members of the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 4 September 2018 (next to be held by 9 March 2024); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on 11 April 2022" @@ -601,10 +601,10 @@ "text": "bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of:
Senate (100 seats; members indirectly elected by the 4 provincial assemblies and the federal capital territory indirectly elected by the National Assembly using proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years)
National Assembly (342 seats; 272 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 70 members - 60 women and 10 non-Muslims - directly elected by proportional representation vote; all members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { - "text": "
Senate - last held on 3 March 2021 (next to be held on 3 March 2024)
National Assembly - last held on 25 July 2018 (next to be held on 8 February 2024)" + "text": "
Senate - last held on 3 March 2021 (next to be held on 3 March 2024)
National Assembly - last held on 8 February 2024 (next to be held in 2029)" }, "election results": { - "text": "
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PTI 25, PPP 21, PML-N 18, BAP 13, JUI-F 5, other 13, independent 5; composition - men 81, women 19, percent of women 19%

National Assembly - percent of votes by party - NA; seats by party - PTI 156, PML-N 83, PPP 55, MMA 16, MQM-P 7, BAP 5, PML-Q 5, BNP-M 4, GDA 3, AML 1, ANP 1, JWP 1, independent 4; composition - men 272, women 70, percent of women 20.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 20.1%" + "text": "
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PTI 25, PPP 21, PML-N 18, BAP 13, JUI-F 5, other 13, independent 5; composition - men 81, women 19, percent of women 19%

National Assembly - percent of votes by party - NA; seats by party - PML-N 75, PPP 54, MQM-P 17, JUI-F 4, Pakistan Muslim League 3, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party 2, BNP-A 2, BAP 1, PMAP 1, PML-Z 1, NP 1, independent 101, other 8, vacant 2 (excludes 70 seats reserved for women and non-Muslims); composition - NA

 

 

" } }, "Judicial branch": { @@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ } }, "Political parties and leaders": { - "text": "Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN]
Awami Muslim League or AML [Sheikh Rashid AHMED]
Balochistan Awami Party or BAP [Abdul Quddus BIZENJO]
Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A [Mir Israrullah ZEHRI]
Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M [Sardar Akhtar Jan MENGAL]
Grand Democratic Alliance or GDA [Pir PAGARO] (alliance of several parties)
Hazara Democratic Party or HDP [Abdul Khaliq HAZARA]
Jamaat-e-Islami or JI [Siraj-ul-HAQ]
Jamhoori Wattan Party or JWP [Nawabzada Shahzain BUGTI]
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl or JUI-F [Maulana Fazal-ur-REHMAN]
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA [Maulana Fazal-ur-REHMAN] (alliance of several parties)
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan or MQM-P [Khalid Maqbool SIDDIQUI]
National Party or NP [Abdul Malik BALOCH]
Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party or PMAP or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N [Shehbaz SHARIF]
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam or PML-Q [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]
Pakistan Muslim League-Functional or PML-F [Pir PAGARO]
Pakistan Peoples Party or PPP [Bilawal BHUTTO ZARDARI, Asif Ali ZARDARI]
Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party or PRHP [Muhammad Ibrahim QASMI]
Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice) [Imran KHAN]
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan or TLP [Hafiz Muhammad Saad Hussain Rizvi MARKAZI]", + "text": "Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN]
Awami Muslim League or AML [Sheikh Rashid AHMED]
Balochistan Awami Party or BAP [Abdul Quddus BIZENJO]
Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A [Mir Israrullah ZEHRI]
Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M [Sardar Akhtar Jan MENGAL]
Grand Democratic Alliance or GDA [Pir PAGARO] (alliance of several parties)
Hazara Democratic Party or HDP [Abdul Khaliq HAZARA]
Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party [Jahangir TAREEN]
Jamaat-e-Islami or JI [Siraj-ul-HAQ]
Jamhoori Wattan Party or JWP [Nawabzada Shahzain BUGTI]
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl or JUI-F [Maulana Fazal-ur-REHMAN]
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan or MWM [Raja Nasir ABBAS]
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA [Maulana Fazal-ur-REHMAN] (alliance of several parties)
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan or MQM-P [Khalid Maqbool SIDDIQUI]
National Party or NP [Abdul Malik BALOCH]
Pakistan Muslim League or PML-Z (Zia-ul-Haq Shaheed)
Pakistan Muslim League-Functional or PML-F [Pir PAGARO]
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N [Shehbaz SHARIF]
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam or PML-Q [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]
Pakistan Peoples Party or PPP [Bilawal BHUTTO ZARDARI, Asif Ali ZARDARI]
Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party or PRHP [Muhammad Ibrahim QASMI]
Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice) [Imran KHAN]
Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party or PMAP or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan or TLP [Hafiz Muhammad Saad Hussain Rizvi MARKAZI]", "note": "note: Pakistan has several hundred officially registered political parties; this list includes those that won seats in the most recent elections at the national and provincial levels" }, "International organization participation": { @@ -1295,7 +1295,7 @@ "text": "1,300 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,900 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 275 South Sudan (UNMISS); 575 Sudan (UNISFA) (2023)" }, "Military - note": { - "text": "the Pakistan military operates largely independently and without effective civilian oversight; it has ruled the country for more than 30 years since independence in 1947 and continues to play a significant role in Pakistan's political arena; it also has a large stake in the country’s economic sector and is involved in a diverse array of commercial activities, including banking, construction of public projects, employment services, energy and power generation, fertilizer, food, housing, real estate, and security services

the military is responsible for external defense but also has a large role in domestic security; its chief external focus is on the perceived threat from India; the military is the lead security agency in many areas of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA); it has considerable operational experience, having engaged in several conflicts with India and conducted counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations for decades against various militant groups in the former FATA; it is also one of the longest serving and largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions; China is its closest security partner

the Army is the largest component; it has more than 20 combat divisions, plus about 20 independent combat brigades; the Army also has an inventory of over 5,000 artillery systems organized into divisions and brigades, plus several squadrons of attack helicopters; the Navy operates throughout the Indian Ocean and conducts a variety of missions, including countering piracy, narcotics, and smuggling, protecting Pakistan’s sea lines of communications, multinational security and humanitarian operations, and naval diplomacy; the Navy is in the midst of a large modernization effort; its principal combat ships are a mix of about 15 frigates and corvettes, plus 5 attack submarines; there is also a small marine amphibious force; the Air Force’s combat missions include the air defense of Pakistan and support to the Army and Navy; it has over 400 Chinese-, French-, and US-made combat aircraft 

Pakistan and India have fought several conflicts since 1947, including the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, as well as two clashes over the disputed region of Kashmir (First Kashmir War of 1947 and the Kargil Conflict of 1999); a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003, revised in 2018, and reaffirmed in 2021, although the Line of Control remains contested, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir; in addition, India and Pakistan have battled over the Siachen Glacier of Kashmir, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area in 1985, 1987, and 1995; despite a cease-fire, as of 2022 both sides continued to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties were due to extreme weather or the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness

Pakistan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2023)" + "text": "the Pakistan military operates largely independently and without effective civilian oversight; it has ruled the country for more than 30 years since independence in 1947 and continues to play a significant role in Pakistan's political arena; it also has a large stake in the country’s economic sector and is involved in a diverse array of commercial activities, including banking, construction of public projects, employment services, energy and power generation, fertilizer, food, housing, real estate, and security services

the military is responsible for external defense but also has a large role in domestic security; its chief external focus is on the perceived threat from India; the military is the lead security agency in many areas of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA); it has considerable operational experience, having engaged in several conflicts with India and conducted counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations for decades against various militant groups in the former FATA; it is also one of the longest serving and largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions; China is its closest security partner

the Army is the largest component; it has more than 20 combat divisions, plus about 20 independent combat brigades; the Army also has an inventory of over 5,000 artillery systems organized into divisions and brigades, plus several squadrons of attack helicopters; the Navy operates throughout the Indian Ocean and conducts a variety of missions, including countering piracy, narcotics, and smuggling, protecting Pakistan’s sea lines of communications, multinational security and humanitarian operations, and naval diplomacy; the Navy is in the midst of a large modernization effort; its principal combat ships are a mix of about 15 frigates and corvettes, plus a handful of attack submarines; there is also a small marine amphibious force; the Air Force’s combat missions include the air defense of Pakistan and support to the Army and Navy; it has over 400 Chinese-, French-, and US-made combat aircraft 

Pakistan and India have fought several conflicts since 1947, including the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, as well as two clashes over the disputed region of Kashmir (First Kashmir War of 1947 and the Kargil Conflict of 1999); a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003, revised in 2018, and reaffirmed in 2021, although the Line of Control remains contested, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir; in addition, India and Pakistan have battled over the Siachen Glacier of Kashmir, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area in 1985, 1987, and 1995; despite a cease-fire, as of 2023 both sides continued to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties were due to extreme weather or the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness

Pakistan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2023)" } }, "Space": { diff --git a/world/xx.json b/world/xx.json index bf51911c..10c5d2f5 100644 --- a/world/xx.json +++ b/world/xx.json @@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { - "text": "1184 (924 cultural, 221 natural, 39 mixed) (2023)" + "text": "1199 (933 cultural, 227 natural, 39 mixed) (2023)" }, "note": "note: a summary of every country's UNESCO World Heritage Sites (i.e., country-specific \"Wonders\") may be found in individual country \"National heritage\" entries; a Wonders of the World field (seven ancient, seven new, and seven natural Wonders) may be found under World > Geography > \"Wonders of the World\"" }