Angola's Future: What Does The Country Need Now?

Angola is a country with a rich history and culture, but it has faced significant challenges in recent years. Angola's economy is heavily dependent on the oil sector, which has led to volatile growth and high levels of poverty and inequality. The country also suffers from a high crime rate, including violent crimes such as armed robbery and carjacking. Additionally, there is a risk of civil unrest and militant activity, particularly in the Cabinda province, which has resulted in a humanitarian crisis. To improve the situation, Angola needs to diversify its economy, particularly by investing in its agricultural sector, and address the social issues caused by income inequality.

Angola's economy

Agriculture and forestry is an area of potential opportunity for the country. Angola requires 4.5 million tonnes of grain a year but grows only about 55% of the maize it needs, 20% of the rice, and just 5% of its required wheat. Angola's economy has been in disarray due to a quarter-century of civil war, but it is now the fastest-growing economy in Africa and one of the fastest-growing in the world, with an average GDP growth of 20% between 2005 and 2007. In the period 2001-2010, Angola had the world's highest annual average GDP growth at 11.1%.

Angola's financial system is maintained by the National Bank of Angola and managed by the governor, Jose de Lima Massano. The country's economy grew by 18% in 2005, 26% in 2006, and 17.6% in 2007. Due to the global recession, the economy contracted by an estimated 0.3% in 2009. The security brought about by the 2002 peace settlement has allowed the resettlement of 4 million displaced persons and a resulting large-scale increase in agricultural production. Angola's economy is expected to grow by 3.9% in 2014, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Angola's political system

The Angolan government is composed of three branches: the executive, legislative and judicial. Political power has been concentrated in the presidency for decades, with the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in power since independence in 1975. However, the 2010 constitution grants the President almost absolute power, with the ability to appoint and dismiss members of the government, judiciary, military, police and other key positions.

The MPLA abandoned its Marxist ideology in 1990 and declared social democracy to be its new platform. Angola is now a multiparty democracy, with UNITA and the FNLA as opposition parties.

Angola's healthcare system

Public healthcare in Angola is severely underfunded and understaffed, and it can be difficult to access. As a result, most expats and locals opt for private healthcare instead. Doctors, nurses, and caregivers in the public sector tend to be insufficiently trained and have to make do with outdated medical technology and infrastructure.

The country's healthcare system has been impacted by the Angolan War of Independence (1961–1975) and the subsequent civil war (1975–2002). Healthcare facilities were left dilapidated, equipment was not maintained, and medical supplies, which are almost all imported, were very scarce.

In recent years, Angola has grown in popularity as a destination for expats, but the country bears the reputation of having poor public healthcare services. Most medical staff in Angola speak Portuguese, and due to the high number of Cuban medical professionals in the country, expats may also be able to find Spanish-speaking doctors. However, English speakers are few.

Pharmacies in Angola, called farmácias, are mostly found in Luanda and are often understocked. Those located in hospitals and clinics are usually open 24 hours a day.

Angola faces several health hazards, including the threat of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and neonatal disorders. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, expats in Angola also run the risk of contracting typhoid, tuberculosis, cholera, and diarrhoeal diseases.

Angola's infrastructure

Angola has significant potential for infrastructure development, particularly in the transport, energy, and telecommunications sectors.

Transport

Angola has a total of 76,626 km of highway, of which 19,156 km is paved. The country also has three separate railway systems totalling 2,761 km, five major sea ports, and 243 airports, 32 of which are paved. The country's extensive coastline and natural resources provide opportunities for port expansion and maritime infrastructure.

The Angolan government and a private consortium recently signed a 30-year concession agreement for the rehabilitation and operation of the Lobito Corridor, a major infrastructure project involving the rehabilitation and expansion of railways, roads, and other transport infrastructure. The project will improve the efficiency of transporting goods between the port and landlocked countries such as Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and has the potential to stimulate economic growth, trade, and regional development.

Energy

Angola's energy sector is benefiting from investments in renewable energy sources and power generation to meet growing demand.

Telecommunications

Enhancing telecommunications networks will promote digital connectivity and economic growth. In October 2014, the building of an optic fibre underwater cable was announced, with the aim of turning Angola into a continental hub and improving internet connections both nationally and internationally.

Angola's natural resources

Angola is a country with a wealth of natural resources. It is considered one of the richest African nations in terms of mineral resources and has some of the largest reserves of petroleum and natural gas in the world, concentrated in the maritime zones off the Cabinda exclave and the Congo River estuary. Angola is the second-largest producer of oil in Sub-Saharan Africa, with about 9 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. The country also has large reserves of iron ore in the southwestern part of the country, as well as commercial quantities of copper, manganese, gold, phosphates, uranium, feldspar, and platinum, especially in the area of the escarpment.

In addition to its mineral wealth, Angola also has arable land, with about 4% of the nation's total area being used for agriculture. Angola's soils are some of the most fertile in Africa, and its climate is highly conducive to agricultural production. The country has the potential for significant agricultural output, but the sector has been neglected due to the civil war and a lack of investment. Before the war, Angola was nearly agriculturally self-sufficient, and it was one of the biggest exporters of food items in Africa. However, the country now imports all its food requirements, and subsistence agriculture provides a livelihood to more than 85% of the population.

Angola also has rich wildlife, with its forests covering nearly 18.4% of the nation's total area. The Maiombe forest, situated in Cabinda, is one of the country's significant forests. In addition, Angola has a long coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, with four natural harbors: Luanda, Lobito, Moçâmedes, and Porto Alexandre. These natural harbors provide favorable conditions for maritime trade.

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