Angola. Republic of Angola
A country in the southwestern part of Africa, also includes the province of Cabinda, separated from the main part of the country by the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). Area - 1,246.7 thousand km². Capital - Luanda (approx. 4.5 million, 2004), largest cities (over 100 thousand residents): Benguela, Huambo, Lubango, Malanje, Cabinda. Administratively divided into 18 provinces. Population - over 12 million (2004). The country is home to more than 10 ethnic groups belonging to 2 ethnic groups: Bantu-Kongo and Western Bantu. The official language is Portuguese. Religion: more than 50% of the population profess Christianity (mainly Catholicism), animist cults are also widespread.
Currency - Kwanza.
Has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on November 11, 1975).
National holiday - November 11 - Independence Day (1975).
Angola is a presidential republic. The constitution of 1975 is in effect, with amendments adopted in 1992. The President of the Republic is José Eduardo dos Santos (since September 1979), who is the head of state and supreme commander (elected by direct vote under a majority system for 5 years). The highest legislative body is the National Assembly (last elections - September 1992; 220 deputies are elected for a term of 4 years by direct and secret voting under a proportional representation system: 130 from a nationwide list and 90 from provinces). In November 1996, the assembly extended its mandate until the election of a new parliament due to the fact that there are currently no conditions in the country for holding parliamentary elections. The executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers.
The first Portuguese colonizers landed on the coast of modern Angola in the late 15th century. By the time of their arrival, several states already existed in this territory, including Ngola, whose ruler was called "mwen- Angola," hence the name of the country. Agreements between Portugal, Belgium, Germany, and England in 1885-99 defined the borders of the Portuguese colony of Angola. Throughout the history of the colonization of the country, the people of Angola did not cease their resistance. Since the 1960s, three political forces have waged armed struggle: MPLA (People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola), UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola), and FNLA (National Front for the Liberation of Angola). By the early 1970s, these organizations had achieved certain successes, liberating significant territory in the east and southeast of the country.
In July 1972, Angola was granted state status with local autonomy. However, it remained a territory dependent on Portugal both politically and economically. After the April Revolution of 1974, the new Portuguese government published a constitutional law recognizing Angola's right to self-determination and independence. According to the agreement reached, the armed struggle in the country was halted. In 1975, a transitional government was formed based on an agreement with Portugal. It included representatives of MPLA, UNITA, and FNLA. However, due to insurmountable contradictions between the three national liberation movements, the activities of this government ceased in the summer of 1975.
Fighting resumed between MPLA, FNLA, and UNITA. In this context, in agreement with the Portuguese government, MPLA, which controlled the capital and several provincial centers of the country, proclaimed Angola's independence on November 11, 1975. Open aggression was unleashed against the young republic. The Angolan government appealed to Cuba for assistance. With the active support of Cuban military personnel, the reorganized national armed forces expelled mercenary and South African army units from Angolan territory by the end of March 1976. However, armed actions against Angola were undertaken from South Africa in the following years — large-scale invasions occurred in 1981, 1985, and 1987. In May 1988, negotiations began between Angola, Cuba, South Africa, and the USA regarding a political settlement in Southwestern Africa, which concluded in December 1988 with the signing of agreements that paved the way for the practical implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435 on Namibia starting April 1, 1989. The withdrawal of South African troops from Angola and the phased withdrawal of Cuban troops were carried out.
Almost all the years following the proclamation of independence (1975), Angola experienced a civil war between the MPLA government and the leading opposition force - the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Thanks to the efforts of the international community, in April 1990, negotiations began between the opposing sides with the mediation of the Portuguese government and the participation of observers from the USSR and the USA. As a result, on May 31, 1991, a package of agreements on peaceful settlement was signed in Lisbon by representatives of the government and UNITA. According to these documents, parliamentary and presidential elections were held in Angola under the supervision of the UN on September 29-30, 1992, which were recognized by the special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Angola as generally free and fair.
As a result of the parliamentary elections, the ruling party MPLA received 53.7% of the votes (129 seats in parliament), UNITA - 34.1% (70 seats). The remaining votes were distributed among other parties. As for the presidential elections, a second round was necessary since the current President of Angola, J. E. dos Santos, received 49.5% of the votes, while his opponent, J. Savimbi, received 40.07%. However, after UNITA leader J. Savimbi refused to recognize the election results, the situation in Angola sharply escalated. A large-scale civil war began again in the country. Under pressure from the international community, at the end of 1993, the parties began new negotiations in the Zambian capital, Lusaka. On November 20, 1994, in Lusaka, with the assistance of the UN and the "troika" of observer countries (Russia, the USA, and Portugal), a protocol was signed between representatives of the government and UNITA to resume the peace process in Angola. However, the implementation of the peace agreements faced significant difficulties.
UN peacekeeping forces of up to 7,000 personnel were deployed in the country, and under their control, the disarmament of UNITA forces began, along with the formation of a unified Angolan armed forces (FAA) and police. In April 1997, a government of unity and national reconciliation was formed with the participation of MPLA, UNITA, and other parliamentary parties, and members of parliament from UNITA returned to Luanda. At the same time, the settlement process was marked by constant disruptions and delays from the established schedule. UNITA retained control over the best well-armed units numbering 20-25 thousand personnel and sabotaged the spread of state administration to the areas it controlled.
In December 1998, large-scale hostilities resumed between the government and UNITA, and in February 1999, the UN Security Council decided to terminate the peacekeeping operation in Angola (UNAVEM). From September to December 1999, FAA inflicted serious defeats on UNITA, which lost almost all of its heavy weapons and military equipment and, under the sanctions imposed against it by the UN, was forced to switch to guerrilla warfare.
In February 2002, J. Savimbi was killed in a battle with government forces. Soon after, negotiations began in the city of Luena between the command of FAA and UNITA forces, which concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Ceasefire in Luanda on April 4, 2002. On August 2, 2002, the government announced the complete disarmament and demobilization of former UNITA military personnel. On November 21, 2002, it was announced that the Lusaka process was completed, and with it, one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts in Africa was brought to an end.
In December 2002, the UN Security Council decided to lift all sanctions previously imposed on UNITA. Despite the formal completion of the peace process, the government and UNITA recognize the need to consolidate the achieved success until final national reconciliation in the country.
The updated constitution (March 1991) enshrined the principle of multiparty democracy. The provision regarding MPLA as the leading force in Angolan society was excluded. In March 1991, a law on political parties was adopted. More than 100 parties have been registered.
The main political force is the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). It was established in December 1956. During the period of independence, it evolved from a "Marxist-Leninist party of the proletariat" to a "mass, independent, national, progressive party." At the IV Congress of MPLA (December 1998), the party's charter, program, and theses "MPLA and the Challenges of the 21st Century" were adopted. MPLA unites 2.2 million members. The chairman is José Eduardo dos Santos. At the V Congress of the party (December 2003), J. Mateus Paulo was elected as the new general secretary.
The second political force in terms of size and influence is the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). At the IX Congress of UNITA (June 2003), I. Samakuva was elected as the party chairman.
The trade union association is the National Union of Workers of Angola - Trade Union Confederation. The chairman is M. da Silva Nego.
Since 1976, Angola has been a member of the UN and the African Union (since 2002, AU). Since 1985, it has been an associated member of the EU. In September 1989, it was admitted to the IMF and the World Bank. Angola's ties with CIS countries and Eastern European states are limited.
Angola is an underdeveloped country economically. About 80% of the population is engaged in agricultural production. Its economic situation in recent years has been determined by the war, which caused direct material damage of about $20 billion. GDP - about $15 billion (2004), per capita - about $700 (2004, estimate). The total volume of industrial production has decreased by more than 10% from the level of 1973.
However, by 2003, GDP growth was 17.5% due to a 25% increase in the oil sector.
The volume of foreign economic relations and trade turnover is mainly concentrated in the western part of the country. More than 90% of export products (oil, coffee, timber) go to the USA (60%), Western European countries, and Brazil.
The main mineral resources are oil (industrial reserves - 420 million tons), diamonds (industrial reserves - 60 million carats), quartz, marble, copper ore, iron ore. Oil and oil products account for more than 54% of the country's GDP. In 2004, approximately 50 million tons of oil were produced. The mining, processing industry, and construction industry are developing. The processing industry accounts for 3.8% of GDP, construction - 3.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing - 8.1%. In 2004, 6.1 million carats of diamonds were mined, worth $763.7 million.
Animal husbandry is poorly developed, mainly in the southern regions. In 1997, about 200 thousand tons of fish were caught on the Angolan shelf.
Angola's external debt amounts to about $8 billion. Foreign trade turnover in 2004 was $18.5 billion (estimate). Angola's exports amounted to about $12.3 billion ($11.2 billion - oil), and imports - $6.2 billion. The main trading partners are the USA, Portugal, China, South Africa, France, Germany, and Brazil.
Railways - about 3 thousand km, roads - about 80 thousand km. Coastal shipping is well developed. Major ports - Luanda, Lobito, Cabinda. Luanda has an international airport.
Angola has a fairly extensive network of general education schools. There are 5 universities in Luanda, the largest of which are the State University named after A. Nego (6.5 thousand students) and the Catholic University (a branch of the Lisbon University "Lusíada").
Until early 1992, only one daily government newspaper was published in Angola - "Jornal de Angola" (40 thousand copies). Then party publications began to be issued: "Terra Angolana" (UNITA), "Progresso" (MPLA). The information agency is "Angola Press" (ANGOP). The country has 2 state television channels, 1 state and several independent radio stations broadcasting in Portuguese and local languages. Several private weekly newspapers and magazines are published.