Sao Tome and Principe Flag
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Brief History. Sao Tome and Principe was 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. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. Though the first free elections were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is likely to have a significant impact on the country's economy.
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