<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 9 regions (regions, singular—region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 15 August 1960 (from France)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> new constitution approved by referendum March 1992
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on French civil law system and customary law
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992); election last held 2-16 August 1992 (next to be held August 1997); results—President Pascal LISSOUBA won with 61% of the vote
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO (since 23 June 1993)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; named by the president
<item><hi format=bold>National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):</hi> election last held 3 October 1993; results—percentage vote by party NA; seats—(125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3
<item><hi format=bold>Senate:</hi> election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held July 1998); results—percentage vote by party NA; seats—(60 total) UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Pan-African Union for Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader; Association for Democracy and Development (RDD)—Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Association for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> Congo has many political parties of which these are among the most important
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<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> red, divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia