In 2009, Sao Tome and Principe had an estimated population of 173,000 people, with a growth rate of 1.7%. The economy was largely based on services such as banking and tourism as well as agriculture and manufacturing. Foreign relations were mainly focused on trade agreements with the African Union, United Nations and other countries in the region. In terms of politics, Sao Tome and Principe was a semi-presidential democracy with a president as head of state. In 2009, Fradique de Menezes was the president at that time and his party had a majority in both houses of Parliament. See internetsailors for Sao Tome and Principe in the year of 2011.
Yearbook 2009
São Tomé and Príncipe. In February, the government said it had averted a coup attempt. About 30 people were arrested, including MP Arlecio Costa from the Christian Democratic Front. According to countryaah, Costa had previously been identified as one of the people responsible for a coup in 2003, which however was quickly defeated. About half of those arrested were released after questioning, but 18 people, including Costa, were detained and brought to trial in October. They were charged with membership in a criminal organization, illegal weapons possession and preparation for an attack on the state. Several of the defendants had a past as mercenaries in South African service. See ABBREVIATIONFINDER for abbreviation ST which stands for the nation of Sao Tome and Principe.
In July, the former colonial power of Portugal set itself the guarantor of the Saotomean currency’s, dobrans, stability by tying it at a fixed exchange rate to the euro.