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In 1783, the Sunni Al-Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. In addition, the Sunni-led government has struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. During the mid-to-late 1990s, Shia activists mounted a low-intensity uprising to demand that the Sunni-led government stop systemic economic, social, and political discrimination against Shia Bahrainis. King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa, after succeeding his late father in 1999, pushed economic and political reforms in part to improve relations with the Shia community. After boycotting the country's first round of democratic elections under the newly-promulgated constitution in 2002, Shia political societies participated in 2006 and 2010 in legislative and municipal elections and Wifaq, the largest Shia political society, won the largest bloc of seats in the elected lower-house of the legislature both times. In early 2011, Bahrain's fractious opposition sought to ride a rising tide of popular Arab protests to petition for the redress of popular grievances. In mid-March 2011, with the backing of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) capitals, King HAMAD put an end to the mass public gatherings and increasingly disruptive civil disobedience by declaring a state of emergency. Manama also welcomed a contingent of mostly Saudi and Emirati forces as part of a GCC deployment intended to help Bahraini security forces maintain order. Since that time, intermittent efforts at political dialogue between the government and opposition have remained at a stalemate. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), formed in June 2011 to investigate abuses during the unrest and state of emergency, released its final report in November 2011. The King fully endorsed the report, and since then Manama has begun to implement many of the BICI's recommendations, including improving policing procedures, reinstating fired workers, rebuilding some mosques, and establishing a compensation fund for those affected by the unrest and crackdown. Despite this progress, street protests have grown increasingly violent since the beginning of 2012.


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Government

Country name
Conventional long form Kingdom of Bahrain
Conventional short form Bahrain
Local long form Mamlakat al Bahrayn
Local short form Al Bahrayn
Former Dilmun, State of Bahrain

Government type
Constitutional monarchy

Capital
Name Manama
Geographic coordinates 26 14 N, 50 34 E
Time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions
5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat
Note
Each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Independence
15 August 1971 (from the UK)

National holiday
National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection

Constitution
Adopted 14 February 2002

Legal system
Mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law

International law organization participation
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage
20 years of age; universal; note - Bahraini Cabinet in May 2011 endorsed a draft law lowering eligibility to 18 years

Executive branch
Chief of state
King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)
Head of government
Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH
Cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Elections
The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch
Bicameral National Assembly consists of the Shura Council or Consultative Council (40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly elected to serve four-year terms)
Elections
Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014); byelections to fill 18 vacated seats held on 24 September 2011
Election results
Council of Representatives (2010) - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Wifaq (Shia) 18, Asala (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17; Council of Representatives byelection for 18 vacated seats (2011) - seats by society - independent pro-government 13, Asala (Sunni Salafi) 1, independent 1, independent (Shia) 1, Islamic Society League (Shia pro-government) 1, Society for National Unity (Sunni pro-government) 1; note - Bahrain has societies rather than parties

Judicial branch
High Civil Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders
None: note - political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law

Political pressure groups and leaders
Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators
Other
Several small leftist and other groups are active

International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the us
Chief of mission
Ambassador Huda Azra Ibrahim NUNU
Chancery
3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX [1] (202) 362-2192
Consulate(s) general New York

Diplomatic representation from the us
Chief of mission Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI
Embassy
Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
Mailing address
PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
Telephone [973] 1724-2700
FAX [973] 1727-0547

Flag description
Red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam
Note
Until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag

National anthem
Name "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
Lyrics/music Unknown
Note
Adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom


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Bahrain (Manama):
Country Flag
Country Locator

GPS points from Bahrain (Manama)

square Al-muharrak Al Muharraq

square Halat Nu`aym Al Muharraq

square Al Qal`ah Al Janubiyah

square 'ain-ad-dar Jidd Hafs

square Bapco Al Janubiyah

square Bandar Nakhlah Mintaqat Juzur Hawar

square Dawhat Al M'ttalah Al Mintaqah Al Gharbiyah





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