Government: Following coup in 1984, governance by twenty-one-member Military Committee for National Salvation (Comité Militaire de Salut National--CMSN). CMSN members, military officers of varying rank and status, represented sometimes disparate, sometimes overlapping corporate and ethnic interests issues decided by consensus. President, elected by CMSN members, appointed a cabinet, which administered policies decided by CMSN.

Administrative Divisions: Divided into twelve regions, each of which was both a judicial district and an administrative subdivision headed by a governor.

Foreign Affairs: Member of Nonaligned Movement maintained friendly ties with East and West. As economy weakened and economic dependence deepened, developed closer ties with wealthier Middle Eastern and Maghribi states and strengthened relations with Soviet Union and China.

Data as of June 1988