Us-Angola Relations: A Historical Perspective

The US has supported Angola since the 1960s, when Angola was fighting for its independence from Portugal. The US supported the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) in their struggle against the Marxist People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). The US was anxious to contain the spread of communism in the region and to protect its interests in the Angolan oil sector. The US also had strong economic interests in Angola, with various American companies operating there.

In 1975, Angola won its independence from Portugal, but the US refused to grant diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of Angola, the socialist one-party state under which the country was governed. The US continued to support UNITA and the FNLA, and the Angolan Civil War began in the same year. The US extended military aid to UNITA and the FNLA, and the conflict became entangled with the South African Border War.

In 1993, the US finally established diplomatic relations with Angola, which had held its first multi-party elections in 1992. The US has since worked with Angola to remove landmines, promote environmental conservation, and help war refugees and internally displaced people.

The US supported anti-government rebels during the Angolan Civil War

The US supported UNITA and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) during the war. In July 1975, President Gerald Ford approved Operation IA Feature, a covert operation run by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that provided military aid to UNITA and the FNLA. The operation was worth worth $32 million in financial support and $16 million in military equipment, and it was coordinated with South Africa and Zaire, who also supported the anti-government rebels.

The US support for the rebels was motivated by a desire to contain the spread of communism in the region and protect American interests in the Angolan oil sector. The US was opposed to the MPLA, which was a left-wing, Soviet-aligned group. The presence of Cuban troops in Angola, who supported the MPLA, also increased US investment in the conflict.

The Clark Amendment, passed by the US Congress in 1976, blocked further US aid to the Angolan rebels until 1985. However, the Reagan administration resumed support for UNITA in line with the Reagan Doctrine, which extended American support to insurgents fighting Soviet proxies worldwide. The US also pursued negotiations to end the various conflicts in Southern Africa, linking the independence of South West Africa to a Cuban withdrawal from Angola. This policy resulted in the Tripartite Accord of 1988, which the US helped mediate.

Despite the end of the Cold War, the US continued to support UNITA under President George H.W. Bush, even as intra-Angolan peace talks were underway. It was only in 1993 that the US extended formal diplomatic recognition to the MPLA-led Angolan government, which had held multi-party elections the previous year.

The US has been working with Angola to remove landmines and help refugees

The United States has been working with Angola to remove landmines and help refugees. Angola's 27-year civil war ended in 2002, leaving landmines and explosives scattered across the country. Since 1994, the US has been funding The HALO Trust to clear landmines in Angola, and almost 100,000 landmines have been destroyed. The focus has shifted from regional capitals to rural areas, where minefields are preventing communities from accessing vital resources like water.

The US is also working with the Angolan government to clear landmines in the Okavango headwaters, a World Heritage Site that is part of the five-country Kavango-Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA). This project aims to conserve and protect the habitat, as landmines make it difficult to stop wildlife poaching. Additionally, the US is supporting the clearance of landmines in the Lobito Corridor, which is expected to attract foreign investment in transport links, boosting Angola's economy.

The US has also provided humanitarian assistance to displaced populations and host communities, helping to meet their basic needs and access essential services. The UNHCR, present in Luanda for over 40 years, has been working in partnership and coordination with the Angolan government to support policies and legislation related to refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons.

The US has played a role in Angola's peace process, extending diplomatic recognition to the MPLA-led government in 1993 and supporting national reconciliation efforts. Regional security partnership, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, has been a focal point of bilateral relations in the 21st century.

The US has invested in Angola's digital architecture

The United States and Angola have had a complex relationship since Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975. During the Angolan Civil War, the US supported anti-government rebels, particularly the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). This support was driven by a desire to contain communism in the region and protect American interests in Angola's oil sector.

In recent years, the relationship between the two countries has improved, with the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993. The US has since invested in Angola's digital architecture, recognising the country's potential for digital growth and its importance as a strategic partner.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasised the US commitment to Angola's digitalisation efforts. During his tour of Africa in January 2024, he highlighted the US investment in Angola's digital architecture, particularly in reliable telecommunication networks. This investment aims to benefit the Angolan people and enhance their digital connectivity to the global economy.

The US government has also supported initiatives to improve digital infrastructure and access to digital services in Angola. For example, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a nearly $5 million project with Africell, a US-owned telecoms company, to promote mobile money usage and spur the growth of a secure and inclusive digital payments ecosystem in Angola.

Additionally, the US has been working with Angola to strengthen its telecommunications networks and improve its digital connectivity. This includes the Open Skies Agreement signed in April 2023, which boosts aviation connectivity between the two countries and creates new opportunities for trade, tourism, and investment.

The US has also been instrumental in mediating regional conflicts, such as the Tripartite Accord of 1988, which helped bring an end to the Angolan Civil War. The US is currently Angola's primary source of official development assistance, and American oil companies retain significant investments in the country.

The US has supported Angola's commitment to democratic reforms

The United States and Angola have maintained diplomatic relations since 1993, but the US did not support Angola prior to this due to Cold War geopolitics. Since establishing diplomatic relations, the US has supported Angola's commitment to democratic reforms.

The US has worked with Angola to remove landmines, promote environmental conservation, and help war refugees and internally displaced people return to their homes. The US has also provided technical assistance to Angola's financial sector and has worked to build the tourism sector through support on environmental conservation and demining.

The US has also supported Angola's commitment to democratic reforms, including amplifying the role of civil society and faith-based organizations in democratic elections and local decision-making. The US Embassy in Angola has launched a program to promote the rule of law by strengthening judicial independence, making citizens more aware of their legal rights, and building the capacity of courts. The US has also provided grants to strengthen press freedom.

The US and Angola have also partnered on health initiatives, with the US providing decades of investment to improve the day-to-day health of Angolans, particularly against malaria and HIV/AIDS. The US has also provided support and testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the US has supported Angola's economic reform efforts since 2017, which has laid the groundwork for stronger commercial and government engagement. The US has partnered with Angola on strategic economic corridors that benefit local populations and integrate them into the global economy. The US has also supported Angola's efforts to reduce its debt vulnerabilities and improve its economy.

Overall, the US has supported Angola's commitment to democratic reforms through a range of initiatives and partnerships aimed at strengthening the country's democratic institutions, promoting economic prosperity, and improving health and security.

The US has contributed to Angola's demining efforts

The United States and Angola have had cordial diplomatic relations since 1993, after Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975. Angola's protracted struggle for independence from Portugal saw the U.S. provide covert support to Holden Roberto of the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA). The U.S. has contributed to Angola's demining efforts in several ways, including:

Funding Humanitarian Demining Operations

The U.S. Department of State funded The HALO Trust's #100WomenInDemining project in Benguela Province, western Angola. This project aims to clear landmines and provide training, marketable skills, and stable employment for 100 women from rural areas. The U.S. Government has provided more than $120 million since 1993 to support Angola's humanitarian demining efforts.

Supporting Weapons and Munitions Destruction

The HALO Trust, funded by the U.S., has removed over 74,000 weapons and more than 1,100 tons of munitions, preventing them from falling into the wrong hands. This is part of a wider U.S.-supported weapons destruction program, which has seen the removal and destruction of excess and obsolete weapons and munitions, promoting peace and security in Angola.

Funding Non-Governmental Organizations

The U.S. Department of State funds three international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in humanitarian demining and mine awareness education: The Halo Trust, Mine Advisory Group (MAG), and Norwegian People's Aid (NPA). These NGOs work closely with Angola's National Commission on Demining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH) and the National Demining Institute (INAD) to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war.

Supporting Development and Reconstruction

U.S.-supported demining programs have cleared over 17 million square meters of land and 6,000 kilometers of roads since 2000, opening up large areas of the country for safe development and reconstruction. The U.S. also supports Angola's commitment to democratic reforms and the fight against corruption, with the State Department providing $7.8 million since 2021.

Promoting Gender Equality

The #100WomenInDemining project promotes gender equality by providing positions for women at all levels, from basic manual demining to leadership roles. This gives local women a say in how mine clearance operations are conducted, allowing them to become agents of positive change and actively shape outcomes for their communities and country.

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