Language: Portuguese
Currency: Kwanza (AOA)
Calling code: +244
Angola, officially Republic of Angola (Portuguese:
Republic of Angola, Kikongo, Kimbundu and Umbundu: Repubilika and
Ngola), is a country located in southern Africa that has borders
with Namibia in the south, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and the Republic of the Congo by the north and with Zambia by the
east, whereas towards the west it has coast bathed by the Atlantic
Ocean. Its capital is Luanda and in the north of the country is the
exclave of Cabinda, which has borders with the Republic of the Congo
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Portuguese were
present in various parts of the coast that today belongs to Angola
since the sixteenth century and interacted in various ways with the
natives. The Portuguese presence was strengthened in the nineteenth
century with its penetration into the territory and its effective
occupation to consider it a colony of Europeans, as stipulated in
the Berlin conference of 1884, did not occur until the 1920s, after
the submission of the Mbunda people and the abduction of their king,
Mwene Mbandu Kapova I.
Angola achieved its independence from
Portugal in 1975, after a long war. However, once emancipated the
new country was immersed in an intense and lasting civil war that
lasted from 1975 to 2002. The country has abundant mineral and oil
deposits and its economy has grown at a very high rate since the
1990s , especially since the end of the civil war. Despite this, the
standard of living of most Angolans is very low and their life
expectancy and infant mortality rates are among the worst in the
world. It is a country with great economic inequalities, since most
of the wealth is in the hands of a very small percentage of its
inhabitants.
Its system of government is multiparty
democracy, with a presidential regime. He is a member of the African
Union, of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, of the
Latin Union and of the Southern African Development Community.
Cangandala National Park that is located in Malanje Province and covers 600 square km is the smallest national park in the country. Yet it is fairly well developed comparing to the rest of the country.
Iona National Park in Angola is a favorite destination for an african safari. It protects an area of 9,960 km² and it is by far the largest national park in Angola.
Luanda is the largest city in Angola as well as its capital. It is situated on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in the Sao Paulo Province. Although it does have one of the highest crime rates in the country, it is the most civilized part of the country.
Quicama National Park is about 70 km from country's capital of Luanda and covers approximately 9,960 km² in North- west Angola. It protects an area of wetlands along with grasslands that is full of large animals.
The toponym "Angola" (port. Angola) comes from the name of the state of Ndongo, which existed on the modern territory of Angola in the 15th-17th centuries, or by the name of the ruler of the state, Zinga Mbandi Ngola, who organized resistance to the Portuguese colonizers. The Portuguese conquerors turned this name into the "Kingdom of Angola" (port. Reino de Angola). In particular, Paulo Dias de Novais, the first governor of Angola and the founder of Luanda, called the country this way in the documents of 1571.
The Atlantic coast of Angola is occupied by the
coastal lowland, which rises in a steep ledge to the plateau, which
occupies more than 90% of the country's territory. The central part of
the plateau is occupied by the Bie massif with the highest point of the
country - Mount Moko (2620 m). Of the minerals, Angola is rich in oil,
diamonds, iron ores, bauxites, phosphorites, gypsum, gold, ores of
uranium, copper, titanium, and manganese.
The climate of the
seaside lowland is tropical trade wind, arid due to the cold Benguela
current passing along the coast, which lowers the temperature of the
coastal air to + 24 ... + 26 ° С in the warmest month (March) and to +
16 ... + 20 ° С in the coldest month ( July). The annual amount of
precipitation on the coast decreases from north to south from 250-500 to
50-100 mm (in the Namib Desert). The climate of the plateau is
equatorial monsoonal, with long wet summers (October-May) and dry
winters (June-September). The air temperature, depending on the height
of various parts of the plateau, varies from +13 ... + 23 ° С in winter
to + 17 ... + 28 ° С at the beginning of the rainy season. The annual
amount of precipitation decreases from north to south of the plateau
from 1000-1500 to 600-800 mm.
The rivers flowing from the western
slopes of the plateau flow into the Atlantic Ocean, from the northern
slopes they flow into the Congo, from the southeast into the Zambezi,
from the south they are lost in the sands of the Kalahari Desert. During
the long rainy season, the rivers overflow strongly, become shallow in
the dry season, and dry up in the south.
Forests and light
forests occupy about 40% of the territory of Angola. Tropical
rainforests are concentrated in the northeast of the country, the rest
of the plateau is occupied by dry deciduous tropical woodlands and grass
savannahs. The vegetation of the seaside lowland changes from grassy and
shrubby savannahs with baobab in the north to velvichi deserts in the
south.
Minerals
Angola has significant natural resources, of
which oil is of primary importance (in particular, the Begonia, Dahlia,
Jasmine, Girasol, Kizomba, Nzanza, Pashflor, Rosa and Singuvu deposits)
and diamonds, as well as iron ore, phosphates, copper, gold, bauxite ,
uranium, granites. In terms of oil production on the African continent,
Angola is second only to Nigeria.
In addition, the republic has
significant natural gas resources: in 2009, its reserves amounted to
about 300 billion cubic meters. The deposits of Angola are characterized
by a large depth of occurrence of layers and a shelf, which increases
the cost of production.
Live nature
The fauna of Angola is
typical of the savannas: elephants, zebras, antelopes, buffaloes,
jackals, lions, cheetahs, leopards, warthogs, aardvarks, monkeys,
various reptiles and insects. Coastal waters are rich in fish.
At the beginning of the VI century BC Bantu
tribes came to the territory inhabited by the Bushmen, with skills
in metal processing, ceramics, and agriculture.
In the XIII-XVI
centuries. part of modern Angola was part of the Kingdom of Congo
with the capital Mbansa-Congo. In the XVI — XIX centuries. part of
the territory occupied the kingdom of Lund. In the north of Angola
in the XVI-XVII centuries. was the state of Ndongo.
1482 - The
Portuguese expedition of the navigator Diogu Cana opened the coast
of Angola.
1576 - Portuguese establish Fort São Paulo di Luanda,
which subsequently becomes the capital of Angola. Until the mid-19th
century, the main occupation of the Portuguese in Angola was the
slave trade; according to rough estimates, over 300 million people
were exported from the country (mainly to Brazil) over 300 years.
Angola as a whole was more associated with Brazil than with the
mother country. After the proclamation of the Brazilian Empire,
Angolan colonists have repeatedly expressed their desire to join it.
1641 - the capture of Luanda by the Dutch. Dutch occupation of
Angola.
1648 - The Portuguese regain Luanda under their control.
Dutch troops leave the territory of Angola.
1885-1894 - Portugal,
Belgium, Germany and England conclude agreements defining the modern
borders of Angola.
1951 - Angola receives the status of "overseas
province" of Portugal.
1958 - An oil refinery was built in
Luanda.
1950s - the first rebel groups emerge - MPLA (Popular
Movement for the Liberation of Angola - Labor Party), UPA.
1961 -
An anti-Portuguese uprising led by Holden Roberto (leader of the UPA
and then the FNLA). The rebel camps are located in neighboring Congo
(Kinshasa). The outbreak of the war of independence, which lasted 14
years. At the same time, the confrontation between MPLA and FNLA
begins.
1962 - the provisional government of the Angolan Republic
in exile was formed, led by Holden Roberto. An Angola National
Liberation Army was established under the command of Roberto.
1966 - the creation of UNITA led by Jonasch Savimbi, a left-wing
radical nationalist of the Ovimbundu, a former associate of Holden
Roberto in the FNLA. The military operations of the military wing of
UNITA - the Armed Forces of the Liberation of Angola (FALA) begin.
1974 - The “Carnation Revolution" in Portugal. Portugal provides
freedom to all its colonies.
1975 - MPLA uses the help of the
regular Cuban army, UNITA - the help of South Africa, FNLA -
neighboring Zaire. The offensive of the FNLA and UNITA on Luanda,
supported by Zaire and South Africa, was foiled at the Battle of
Kifangondo. MPLA troops launch a successful counterattack.
1975,
November 11 - the independence of Angola is proclaimed. The first
president of Angola is the leader of the pro-Soviet MPLA group
Agostinho Neto, whose troops occupy Luanda - the administrative
center of Angola. However, independence does not bring Angola peace.
A long-standing civil war began for power in the country, between
the pro-Soviet MPLA and the pro-American UNITA and FNLA. This war is
complicated by interethnic contradictions. Streams of weapons are
pouring into the country. Government troops are trained by Soviet
and Cuban instructors.
1976 - MPLA troops win the first stage of
the civil war. FNLA defeated, the troops of South Africa and Zaire
leave the territory of Angola. In Luanda, the trial of a group of
mercenaries FNLA. UNITA goes over to a long-term guerrilla war.
1977 - May rebellion of "factionalists" led by orthodox communist
Nito Alvish. Suppressed by President Neto and General E. Carreira
with the help of Cuban troops. Tens of thousands have been targeted
by DISA State Security.
1977, 1978 - units of the pro-Angolan
organization FNLC, under the command of General Mbumba, with the
sanction of the MPLA government, invade the Zaire province of Shaba.
The 1977 invasion was repelled by the Zaire army with the decisive
help of the Moroccan troops. The following year, FNLC formations
were defeated in Kolwezi by paratroopers of the French Foreign
Legion. After two defeats in Shaba, the Angolan government goes to
normalize relations with Zaire.
1979 - the death of Agostinho
Neto. The president of Angola is the new leader of the MPLA, Jose
Eduardo dos Santos. DISA was disbanded a little earlier, functions
are divided between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the
Ministry of State Security.
1980 - Enrique Carreira, the second
member of the party-state hierarchy during the time of Agostinho
Neto, is removed from the post of Minister of Defense. Power is
concentrated in the hands of President dos Santos. FNLA leader
Holden Roberto stops fighting in Angola. UNITA led by Jonas Savimbi
activates guerrilla warfare.
1985 - in the city of Jamba, in the territory
controlled by UNITA rebels, an international conference of
anti-communist partisans took place.
1987-1988 - The Battle of
Quito Kwanaval, a turning point in the war. South African troops
leave the territory of Angola.
1989 - In accordance with
international agreements, Cuban and South African troops leave the
territory of Angola. Direct military support from outside the
Angolan warriors officially ends.
1990 - Under the influence of
perestroika in the USSR, the MPLA proclaims a rejection of communist
ideology and declares its intention to carry out radical democratic
and market reforms.
1991 - Lisbon signed the Biessse Agreement on
a political settlement between the ruling MPLA and the opposition
UNITA. Holden Roberto returns to Angola.
1992 - having lost
Soviet support, the MPLA is reoriented to the United States. In
autumn, the first multi-party elections are held in the country's
history. Announced the receipt of the MPLA majority in parliament
and the first place souls Santos following the results of the first
round. UNITA disputes the announced election results. MPLA responds
with a Halloween carnage. The civil war resumes with new fierceness.
1993 - 55 days war, the last major military victory of UNITA.
Savimbi's troops once again capture Huambo.
1994 - New peace
agreements between the MPLA and UNITA are signed in Lusaka. A
ceasefire and the creation of a coalition government are supposed.
Both parties ignore the agreement, the agreement is broken.
1998
- the aggravation of the political situation, the resumption of
clashes between the MPLA and UNITA. Creation of a pro-government
party Updated UNITA.
1999 - a massive offensive by government
forces in the position of UNITA, on December 24, the city of Jamba
was captured.
2002 - February 22, Jonas Savimbi dies in a battle
with government forces near the town of Lucousse (eastern province
of Moshiko). On March 15, negotiations begin between representatives
of the government and the new leadership of UNITA, headed by Paulo
Lukmba and Isaias Samakuva. On April 4, a Memorandum of
Understanding was signed - a new peace agreement. UNITA basically
accepts the terms of the settlement put forward by the ruling MPLA
and becomes the legal opposition.
2010 - The African Nations Cup
is held in Angola.
2011 - protests by opposition youth led by
rapper Iconoclast, influenced by the Arab Spring. The authorities
oppose them with mass demonstrations of civil servants with an
expression of loyalty to President dos Santos.
2012 - MPLA again
receives a large majority of seats in parliament. According to
constitutional amendments, Jose Eduardo dos Santos automatically
retains his presidency.
2013 - a new wave of protests organized
by the KASA party (Wide Convergence for the Salvation of Angola) led
by former UNITA activist Abel Shivukuvuku. Authorities respond with
stiff suppression using firearms. The killings of opposition
activists are noted. The Government declares priority protection for
the Angolan “spiritual and cultural heritage”. In Luanda and some
other localities, mosques are demolished.
2016 - The MPLA Central
Committee approved the list of party candidates in the parliamentary
elections coming in August 2017. The first number on the list is the
Minister of Defense of Angola, vice-chairman of the MPLA, Juan
Lawrence. Thus, Lawrence was declared the successor to President dos
Santos.
The elections were held on August 23, 2017, at which the
MPLA again received the parliamentary majority, although the
opposition - UNITA and KASA - significantly strengthened their
positions. On September 26, Juan Lawrence became the new president
of Angola (José Eduardo dos Santos remained chairman of the MPLA).
2018 - September 8, President Lorenzo is replaced by the soul of
Santos as chairman (president) of the MPLA. Dos Santos leaves
Angola. The new president announces major liberal reforms and
criticizes his predecessor.
Angola is a presidential republic. The head of state
is the president. Since 1979, this post has been held by José Eduardo
dos Santos. On September 26, 2017, he was replaced by Juan Lourenço.
The government is led by a vice president who is appointed by the
president. Since September 26, 2017, Bornito de Sousa has been Vice
President.
The legislature is a unicameral parliament (People's
Assembly) consisting of 220 deputies elected for 4 years. Since
September 27, 2012, Fernando da Piedade dos Santos, who previously held
this post in 2008-2010, again became the President of the Parliament.
Political parties represented in parliament (based on August 2017
election results):
UNITA (National Union for the Complete
Independence of Angola) - 51 seats;
MPLA (People's Movement for the
Liberation of Angola) - 150 seats;
CASA (Wide Convergence to Save
Angola) - 16 seats;
Party of Social Renewal - 2 seats;
FNLA
(National Front for the Liberation of Angola) - 1st place.
According
to the new constitution of 2011, direct presidential elections are
canceled in the country, and the leader of the party that won the
parliamentary elections becomes president. The post of prime minister
was also abolished, as a result of which all power passed to the
president.
The first census of the population of Angola since
independence was carried out on May 16-31, 2014. The previous census was
conducted by the Portuguese colonial administration in December 1970.
The 2014 census results recorded a population of 25,789,024. The
population estimate for 2022 is 34,795,287.
The main part of the
people of Angola are three ethnic groups: Ovimbundu (37%), Northern
Mbundu (25%) and Bakongo (13%). The remaining Bantu-speaking peoples
inhabiting the country are Lunda, Chokwe, Gangela, Nyaneka-Umbe, Ovambo,
Herero and Shindonga. Bushmen belong to non-Bantu-speaking peoples.
About 2% of the population are African-European mulattoes, 1% are white,
mostly assimilated Portuguese.
The demonym is Angolans, Angolans
and Angolans.
Population growth in the country but as of 2022 is
3.36% annually (6th in the world). The average fertility rate for 2022
is 5.83 births per woman (2nd in the world). As of 2022, infant
mortality is very high in Angola - an average of 58.86 out of 1000 die
in the first year of life (12th in the world).
The average life
expectancy is 62.11 years (2022).
In 2007, 2.1% of the population
was infected with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV). About 11 thousand
people die from this disease every year.
The official state
language is Portuguese. The population uses African Bantu languages:
southern Mbundu, northern Mbundu, Kongo, Chokwe, Kwanyama.
Of all
African countries, Angola is the country with the highest percentage of
speakers of Portuguese as their first language: across the country,
about 71.15% of the nearly 25.8 million inhabitants speak Portuguese at
home, according to the population census conducted in 2014. Angola is
the second country with the most Portuguese speaking people in the world
after Brazil.
Angola is an underdeveloped agrarian state. The
economy of Angola is based on the production and export of oil - 85% of
GDP. Thanks to the oil component, the country's economy is the fastest
growing among the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. So, in 2008, Angola's
GDP growth was 15%, while in general, the countries of Black Africa
showed only 5% growth. Per capita gross domestic product in 2008 was
$5,020, a very high achievement for this region of the world. The oil
fields of Angola represented (as of the beginning of the 2010s) 50
concession blocks, with an area of approximately 5 thousand km² each.
This number included 30 concession blocks on the shelf (13 deep water
and 17 ultra deep water zones): only 11 of them were actually producing
in 2011. The concession for oil production in Angola was issued (as of
the early 2010s) for 20 years. In 2013, the country produced 87.4
million tons of oil, part of which was processed at the plant in Luanda
(its capacity is 65 thousand barrels per day).
In addition, the
economy of Angola received from China and Hong Kong in 2003-2009. loans
totaling $17.4 billion. Large loans also came from Brazil, Portugal,
Germany, Spain and the European Union.
Agriculture
Agriculture
employs over 80% of the workforce, but about 80% of the food consumed is
imported. Bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava,
tobacco, and vegetables are cultivated. Livestock is bred.
Industry
Oil, diamonds, granite, marble, inert building materials,
and natural asphalt are being extracted. Old refineries are being
reconstructed and new ones are being built. Export of natural gas (in
liquefied form): the plant for its liquefaction went into operation in
2013, and the first batch was sent in June of the same year.
There is an intensive preparation of iron ore and manganese deposits for
the resumption of their export. Detailed geological exploration is
carried out on previously recorded manifestations of phosphates,
bauxites, copper, gold.
New enterprises for the production of
cement, processing of granite and marble, production of food products
(beer, cigarettes, coffee, mineral water, meat and dairy products) have
been restored or built. Textile production is being revived, which will
work on local raw materials.
Energy
There are more than 6
hydroelectric power plants in Angola:
HPP Lomaum
HPP Cambambe
HPP Lauka
HPP Gove
International trade
Exports ($30.3
billion in 2017) are crude oil (88%), natural gas (4.5%), diamonds
(4.3%), a small amount of raw fish and timber.
Major buyers:
China 61%, India 12%, USA 7.9%, South Africa 4.4% and Spain 3.2%.
Imports ($10.4 billion in 2017) - machinery and equipment, vehicles
(up to 35% of the value), chemical products, including medicines
(11.5%), metals (8.6%), and products food and other consumer goods
(shoes, clothes, furniture)
Major suppliers: China 21%, Portugal
19%, Brazil 6.4%, South Africa 6.1%.
Most of the inhabitants of Angola profess Christianity
(according to various estimates, from 88 to 94% in 2010).
The
country remains predominantly Catholic (57%), but the proportion of
Protestants is noticeably increasing (more than 30% in 2010). The latter
are represented primarily by the Assemblies of God (2 million), the
Kingdom of God World Church (0.4 million) and other Pentecostal
denominations. There are several hundred thousand believers in the
Congregational, Adventist, Baptist, Reformed, and Plymouth Brethren
communities. There are 115,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in the country,
united in 1,565 congregations.
Local traditional beliefs are
followed by 4.5% of the population of Angola, but the number and
proportion of supporters of these cults continues to decline.
Migrants from West Africa and the Middle East practice Islam. The number
of Muslims in the country is estimated at 80-90 thousand people. Among
foreigners living in the country there are Buddhists, supporters of the
Chinese folk religion, Hindus and Jews.
On August 31, 2015,
President José Eduardo dos Santos launched a law ordering the closure of
all mosques in the country. “This is the final completion of Islamic
influence in our country,” the head of state said. The culture minister
added to the president's words: "The process of legalizing Islam has not
been approved by the country's Ministry of Justice and mosques will be
closed until further notice."
mass media
The state television
company of Angola TPA (Televisão Pública de Angola - Public Television
of Angola), founded in 1973 under the name RPA (Radiotelevisão
Portuguesa de Angola - Portuguese Radio Television of Angola) as part of
RTP, launched its second channel TPA 2 in 2000.
The state radio
company of Angola RNA (Rádio Nacional de Angola - National Radio of
Angola) was founded in 1977, includes 6 radio stations - Canal A, Radio
Cinco, Radio N'gola Yetu, Radio Luanda, Radio Estereo and Canal
Internacional.