Angola: A Country In Transition?

Angola is a country located in southwestern Africa. It is officially known as the Republic of Angola and is the seventh-largest country in Africa. Angola has a population of over 35 million people and is a multicultural and multiethnic society. The country has a long coastline along the South Atlantic Ocean and shares borders with Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Republic of the Congo. Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975, and since then, it has faced political instability and civil war. Today, Angola is a constitutional republic with a growing economy, driven by its vast mineral and petroleum reserves.

Angola's economy and natural resources

Angola's economy is heavily influenced by its natural resources, which include petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium, and other minerals. Angola is one of the largest exporters of petroleum in sub-Saharan Africa, with vast reserves located off the coast of its Cabinda exclave and the Congo River estuary. The country has been an OPEC member since 2007, and the petroleum sector accounts for a significant portion of its exports and government revenue.

In addition to petroleum, Angola has a long history of diamond production and export. While the industry has faced challenges due to conflict and smuggling, diamonds continue to be a significant contributor to the economy.

Agriculture also plays a role in Angola's economy, with products such as bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, and plantains. However, due to the civil war, small-scale farming, and landmine issues, Angola now imports a significant portion of its food.

Angola's other natural resources, such as iron ore, gold, copper, and uranium, have also attracted foreign investment and contributed to economic growth. The country has one of the largest hydroelectric potentials in Africa, with most of its electricity coming from dams.

The manufacturing sector in Angola produces construction materials, refined petroleum equipment, processed food, textiles, and electrical goods. The construction industry has been stimulated by government housing projects and infrastructure development.

Angola's economy has faced challenges, including corruption, inequality, and a heavy dependence on the oil sector. However, the country has made efforts to diversify its economy, attract foreign investment, and improve its infrastructure.

Angola's political system

Angola is a presidential republic, with a multiparty system. The President of Angola is both the head of state and the head of government. The President is advised by a Council of Ministers, which, together with the President, forms the national executive power. The President is also responsible for appointing the majority of the members of the two highest bodies of the judiciary: the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.

Legislative power rests with the 220 parliamentarians elected to the National Assembly. The executive branch of the government is composed of the President, the vice-presidents and the Council of Ministers.

The current President of Angola is Joao Lourenco, who succeeded Jose Eduardo dos Santos in 2017. The ruling party is the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which has been in power since the country's independence in 1975.

The 2010 constitution also eliminated presidential elections, introducing a system in which the president and vice-president of the political party that wins the parliamentary elections automatically become president and vice-president.

The National Assembly is a unicameral legislature with 220 seats. Members are elected for a four-year term, with 130 members elected by proportional representation, 90 members in provincial districts, and 3 members representing Angolans abroad.

The 2010 constitution was preceded by a 1992 constitution that provided for a multiparty system with a directly elected president as the head of state and government, assisted by a prime minister. This constitution was preceded by the 1975 constitution, which established a one-party state headed by a president who was also chairman of the MPLA.

Angola's history

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country in southwestern Africa. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa and the second-largest Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in the world in terms of both total area and population.

Angola's Pre-Colonial History

Angola has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Age. The formation of Angola as a nation-state can be traced back to the Kingdom of Kongo, which was the hegemonic state of several other Kikongo-speaking kingdoms that flourished from the 14th century onwards. The Kingdom of Kongo became extremely wealthy and powerful through its involvement in the Atlantic slave trade with the Portuguese Empire.

Portuguese Colonisation

Portuguese explorers first arrived in Kongo in 1483 and established relations with the kingdom. The Portuguese gradually took control of the coastal areas of Angola through a series of treaties and wars throughout the 16th century. By the 19th century, Angola was the largest source of slaves for the Americas. Portugal secured administrative control over the interior of Angola in the early 20th century.

Angolan Independence and Civil War

As decolonisation progressed in Africa after World War II, Portugal continued to treat its African colonies as overseas provinces. As a result, three Angolan independence movements emerged, leading to an anti-colonial struggle from 1961 to 1974. Angola achieved independence in 1975 as a one-party Republic, but the country descended into civil war the same year. The civil war was fought between the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), and the militant organisation National Liberation Front of Angola. The civil war ended in 2002, and Angola has since emerged as a relatively stable constitutional republic.

Angola's population and demographics

Angola's population is estimated at 37.2 million as of 2023. The country is multicultural and multiethnic. The population is composed of Ovimbundu (37%), Ambundu (23-25%), Bakongo (11-13%), and other ethnic groups (32%) including Chokwe, Ovambo, Ganguela, and Xindonga. There are also around 2% mulattos (mixed European and African), 1.6% Chinese, and 1% European. The official language of Angola is Portuguese, but several Bantu languages are also widely spoken, including Kikongo, Kimbundu, Umbundu, Tuchokwe, Ganguela, and Ukanyama.

Angola has a low standard of living, with most of the nation's wealth concentrated in a disproportionately small part of the population. Life expectancy is among the lowest in the world, while infant mortality is among the highest. The country has a high fertility rate, with women having an average of more than 5 children. The population is predominantly young, with around 48% under the age of 15 as of 2022.

Angola is a majority Christian country, with more than half of the population being Catholic. Other Christians, including traditional Protestants and Pentecostals, make up around 38% of the population. Only a small minority of Angolans practice traditional indigenous religions. Literacy rates are fairly low, with around 71% of the population over the age of 15 able to read and write in Portuguese.

Angola's involvement in the Cold War

Angola's civil war, which lasted from 1975 to 2002, is widely considered a Cold War proxy conflict. The war was fought between the communist People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the anti-communist National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The MPLA was primarily an urban-based movement in Luanda, while UNITA was a rural group, mainly composed of the Ovimbundu people from the Bié Plateau.

The Soviet Union and Cuba supported the MPLA, while the United States, South Africa, and China backed UNITA. The conflict was closely intertwined with the Second Congo War in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo and the South African Border War.

The involvement of the superpowers and their allies delivered military assistance to their preferred clients. The United States supplied aid, training, and weapons to both the FNLA and UNITA. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union provided military training and equipment to the MPLA. Cuba sent military advisors to support the MPLA army and later deployed thousands of troops to halt the South African advance.

The Angolan Civil War was a significant Cold War conflict due to the combination of Angola's violent internal dynamics and the exceptional degree of foreign military and political involvement. The war resulted in devastating consequences for Angola, including the destruction of infrastructure, severe damage to public administration, the economy, and religious institutions, and the displacement of over a million people.

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