Sao Tome and Principe – Country Profile – Nations Online Project

Background:
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands’ sugar-based
economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century – all grown with plantation
slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century.

Although independence
was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s.
The first free elections were held in 1991, the political environment has
been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and several failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is
likely to have a significant impact on the country’s economy.

related countries: Equatorial
Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria,
Portugal
 

Background:Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands’ sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century – all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century.Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The first free elections were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and several failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is likely to have a significant impact on the country’s economy.related countries: Cape Verde