Suriname,officially the Republic of Suriname,is a sovereign state in northern South America. Situated slightly north of the equator within the tropics,over 90% of its territory is covered by rainforests,the highest proportion of forest cover in the world. Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north,French Guiana to the east,Guyana to the west,and Brazil to the south. It is the smallest country in South America by both population and territory,with around 612,985 inhabitants in an area of approximately 163,820 square kilometers. The capital and largest city is Paramaribo,home to roughly half the population.
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname,located on the banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 241,000 people,almost half of Suriname's population. The historic inner city of Paramaribo has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.
DesiréDelano Bouterse is a Surinamese military officer,politician,and convicted drug trafficker who served as President of Suriname from 2010 to 2020. From 1980 to 1987,he was Suriname's de facto leader after conducting a military coup and establishing a period of military rule. In 1987,Bouterse founded the National Democratic Party (NDP). On 25 May 2010,Bouterse's political alliance,the Megacombinatie,which included the NDP,won the parliamentary elections,and on 19 July 2010,Bouterse was elected as President of Suriname with 36 of 50 parliament votes. He was inaugurated on 12 August 2010.
The president of the Republic of Suriname is,in accordance with the Constitution of 1987,the head of state and head of government of Suriname,and commander-in-chief of the Suriname National Army (SNL). The president also appoints a cabinet.
Jules Albert Wijdenbosch is a Surinamese politician who was President of Suriname from 1996 to 2000. He was a member of the National Democratic Party,which held absolute power in Suriname during the 1980s. He was Prime Minister from April 1987 until January 1988,Vice President from January 1991 until September 1991,and President from September 1996 until August 2000. He is now the leader of Democratic National Platform 2000. The Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge,which connects the East of the country with Paramaribo,has been named after Wijdenbosch.
Henck Alphonsus Eugène Arron was a Surinamese politician who served as the first Prime Minister of Suriname after it gained independence in 1975. A member of the National Party of Suriname,he served from 24 December 1973 with the transition government,to 25 February 1980. He was overthrown in a coup d'état by the military,led by Dési Bouterse. Released in 1981 after charges of corruption were dropped,he returned to banking,his previous career. In 1987,Arron was elected as Vice President of Suriname and served until another coup in 1990 overthrew the government.
Moiwana is a Maroon village in the Marowijne district in the east of Suriname.
The General Liberation and Development Party is a political party in Suriname,founded and chaired by ex-rebel leader Ronnie Brunswijk in 1990 after several members of the BEP were expelled. The former Vice President of Suriname,Robert Ameerali,is a member of the ABOP.
Nieuw Nickerie is the third largest city in Suriname with a population estimated at 12,818. It is the capital city of the Nickerie district,and the terminus of the East-West Link.
Albina is a town in eastern Suriname,and is capital of the Marowijne District. The town lies on the west bank of the Marowijne river,which forms the border with French Guiana,directly opposite the French Guianan town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni,to which it is connected by a frequent ferry service. Albina can be reached by bus via the East-West Link. The distance between Paramaribo and Albina is about 150 kilometres (95 mi).
The National Assembly is the Parliament,representing the legislative branch of government in Suriname. It is a unicameral legislature. The assembly has been situated in the former park house at the Independence Square in Paramaribo,after a fire destroyed the old building of representation on 1 August 1996. A reconstruction of the old building was completed in 2022.
Ramdien Sardjoe is a Surinamese politician and served as Vice President of Suriname from 2005 to 2010. He is a member of the Progressive Reform Party (VHP).
The vice president of Suriname is the second-highest political position in Suriname,after the president. The president and the vice president are elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms.
Pretaapnarian Shawh Radhecheran Radhakishun was a Surinamese politician. He was Prime Minister of Suriname from July 1986 to April 1987,and Vice President of Suriname from September 1996 to August 2000.
The Ndyuka people or Aukan people (Okanisi),are one of six Maroon peoples in the Republic of Suriname and one of the Maroon peoples in French Guiana. The Aukan or Ndyuka speak the Ndyuka language. They are subdivided into the Opu,who live upstream of the Tapanahony River in the Tapanahony resort of southeastern Suriname,and the Bilo,who live downstream of that river in Marowijne District
Ronnie Brunswijk is a Surinamese politician,businessman,former rebel leader,footballer and convicted drug trafficker,who is serving as the current Vice President of Suriname.
Chandrikapersad "Chan" Santokhi is a Surinamese politician and former police officer who is the 9th president of Suriname,since 2020. After winning the 2020 elections,Santokhi was the sole nominee for president of Suriname. On 13 July,Santokhi was elected president by acclamation in an uncontested election. He was inaugurated on 16 July.
Michael Ashwin Satyandre Adhin is a Surinamese educator,politician,and was the Vice President of Suriname between 2015 and 2020. He is a member of the National Democratic Party. At the age of 35,he became the youngest vice president in the history of Suriname to lead the Council of Ministers. Adhin is a Hindu of Indian descent.
General elections were held in Suriname on 25 May 2020. The elections occurred concurrently with an economic crisis in Suriname,as well as the COVID-19 crisis.
Dewanchandrebhose Sharman is a Surinamese doctor and politician. He is a member of the National Assembly for the Progressive Reform Party (VHP). In 2015,he was first elected to the National Assembly by preferential votes. In 2020,Sharman was elected Vice Chairman of the National Assembly in an uncontested election.
