Angola's Progress: A Developing Country's Journey

Angola is a country in a state of flux. It is a large country with a long coastline and central plateau, situated in Southern Africa, and bordered by Namibia, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has a population of over 33 million and is rich in natural resources, including oil, diamonds, and gold. Angola has a long history of colonial rule and conflict, achieving independence from Portugal in 1975, after which it descended into a 27-year civil war. Since the end of the war in 2002, Angola has been working to rebuild its economy and infrastructure, with a focus on the oil sector. However, it continues to face challenges such as poverty, inequality, and a lack of economic diversification.

Angola is a country in southwestern Africa with a population of over 33 million

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country in southwestern Africa with a population of over 33 million. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa and has a land area of 1,246,700 square kilometres. The country is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Angola also has an exclave province, Cabinda, which borders the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Angola has a long history, with human habitation dating back to the Paleolithic Age. The country was formed as a nation-state from the Kingdom of Kongo and other Kikongo-speaking kingdoms in the 14th century. The Kingdom of Kongo became wealthy and powerful through its involvement in the Atlantic slave trade with the Portuguese Empire. Portuguese explorers established relations with Kongo in 1483, and the Portuguese colony of Angola was formed in the early 20th century.

Angola gained independence in 1975 after a protracted anti-colonial struggle. However, the country soon descended into a devastating civil war between competing movements. The civil war ended in 2002, and Angola has since emerged as a relatively stable constitutional republic.

Angola is rich in natural resources, with vast mineral and petroleum reserves. Its economy is among the fastest-growing in the world, but economic growth is uneven, and most of the nation's wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small portion of the population. Angola has a low standard of living, with low life expectancy and high infant mortality rates. The government has made fighting corruption a key priority.

Angola is a multicultural and multiethnic country, with influences from both indigenous customs and traditions and its colonial history. The official language is Portuguese, and the country is a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.

Angola is a presidential republic with a multi-party system

The Angolan government is composed of three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the 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 the end of the civil war in 2002. The MPLA was also the ruling party during Angola's one-party Marxist-Leninist system, which was in place from independence in 1975 until the adoption of a new constitution in 1992.

The 2010 constitution grants the President almost absolute power. The President appoints and dismisses all members of the government, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Court of Auditors, the Military Supreme Court, the National Angolan Bank, the General-Attorney, the Governors of the provinces, the members of the Republic Council, the National Security Council, the Superior Magistrates Councils, the Armed Forces, the Police, and the chiefs and directors of the intelligence and security organs. The President also defines the policy of the country.

The National Assembly has 220 members, elected for a four-year term. The general elections in 2008 were only partly free but not fair. The ruling party, MPLA, won 82% of the votes (191 seats in the National Assembly), while the main opposition party won only 10% (16 seats).

The 2010 constitution did away with 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 official language of Angola is Portuguese, but many Bantu and other African languages are also spoken

Angola is a country on the west-central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in terms of both total area and population, and the seventh-largest country in Africa. Portuguese is the only official language of Angola, and it is also the most spoken language in the country. However, there are 46 other languages spoken in Angola, most of which are Bantu languages.

The variant of Portuguese spoken in Angola is known as Angolan Portuguese, which is phonetically very similar to the Mozambican variant, with some exceptions. Some believe that Angolan Portuguese resembles a pidgin in some aspects. A 2012 study by the Angolan National Institute for Statistics found that Portuguese is the mother tongue of 39% of the population, and it is spoken as a second language by many more throughout the country. The 2014 population census found that about 71% of the nearly 25.8 million inhabitants of Angola speak Portuguese at home. In urban areas, 85% of the population declared that they speak Portuguese at home, compared to 49% in rural areas.

Portuguese was quickly adopted by Angolans in the mid-twentieth century as a lingua franca among the various ethnic groups. After the Angolan Civil War, many people moved to the cities, where they learned Portuguese. When they returned to the countryside, more people were speaking Portuguese as a first language. Younger urban generations are moving towards the dominant or exclusive use of Portuguese.

The most widely spoken indigenous languages in Angola are Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo. Umbundu is spoken by about 23% of the population, or about 5.9 million people, and it is mainly spoken in the centre and south of the country. Kimbundu is spoken in Luanda Province and adjacent provinces. Kikongo is spoken in the northwest, including the exclave of Cabinda, and it is spoken by about 8.24% of Angolans.

In Cabinda, which is wedged between two French-speaking countries—the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of the Congo—many people speak French as well as, or better than, Portuguese. Of the literate population in Cabinda, 90% speak French, while only 10% speak Portuguese. The Angolan Bakongo, who were exiled in the Democratic Republic of Congo, usually speak better French and Lingala than Portuguese and Kikongo.

All native languages of Angola are considered to be national languages. The Angolan radio transmits in 14 of the "main" national languages: Bangala, Chokwe, Fiote, Herero, Kikongo, Kimbundu, Kwanyama, Lunda, Ngangela, Ngoya, Nyaneka, Ovambo, Songo, and Umbundu. Some of the national languages are used in Angolan schools, including the provision of teaching materials such as books, but there is a shortage of teachers.

Angola's economy is largely dependent on oil, though diversification efforts are underway

Angola is a country on the west-central coast of Southern Africa. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa and has a population of over 33 million people. Angola's economy is heavely dependent on oil, which has been the case since the 19th century, but diversification efforts are underway.

Angola's economy has been dominated by the production of raw materials and the use of cheap labour since European rule began in the 16th century. The Portuguese used Angola as a source for the thriving slave trade across the Atlantic, with Luanda becoming the greatest slaving port in Africa. After the slave trade was abolished in 1858, the Portuguese began using concessional agreements, granting exclusive rights to private companies to exploit land, people, and resources within a given territory.

In the 19th century, the principal exports were rubber, beeswax, and ivory. By the early 20th century, exportation of coffee, palm kernels and oil, cattle, leather and hides, and salt fish had joined the principal exports, with small quantities of gold and cotton also being produced.

In the 1930s, Portugal started to develop closer trade ties with its colonies, and by 1940, it absorbed 63% of Angolan exports and accounted for 47% of Angolan imports. After World War II, the rapid growth of industrialization worldwide and the parallel requirements for raw materials led Portugal to develop the Angolan economy further. During this time, Portugal built dams, hydroelectric power stations, and transportation systems, and initiated mining operations for iron ore, manganese, and copper. In 1955, the first successful oil wells were drilled in Angola, and by 1960, the Angolan economy had been completely transformed.

However, by 1976, these developments had been reversed due to the war of independence and subsequent internal fighting. The economy was in disarray, with most agricultural plantations abandoned by their Portuguese owners, factories closed, and skilled workers having left the country.

Since the end of the civil war in 2002, Angola has emerged as a relatively stable constitutional republic, and its economy is among the fastest-growing in the world. However, economic growth is highly uneven, with most of the nation's wealth concentrated in a disproportionately small part of the population. Angola's economy is heavely dependent on oil, which in 2017 accounted for over 90% of exports by value and 64% of government revenue. With the end of the oil boom, Angola entered a period of economic contraction from 2015 onwards.

Despite its dependence on oil, Angola has been making efforts to diversify its economy. Agriculture is the sector with the highest potential to drive this diversification, as the country has abundant agricultural and arable land and favourable climatic conditions. The World Bank is supporting Angola's diversification efforts by promoting private enterprise and revitalising rural economies to create greater competitiveness and employment. Angola is also seeking financing from China and Europe to modernise its agricultural sector, grow its industries, and diversify its economy.

Angola has a low standard of living, with high infant mortality and low life expectancy

Angola is a country in Southern Africa with a population of over 33 million people. It is officially known as the Republic of Angola and is the seventh-largest country in Africa. Angola has a low standard of living, with high infant mortality and low life expectancy.

Angola's economy is among the fastest-growing in the world, particularly since the end of the civil war in 2002. However, economic growth is highly uneven, with most of the nation's wealth concentrated in a disproportionately small part of the population. Angola has vast mineral and petroleum reserves, but the benefits of these resources are not reaching the majority of the population.

The standard of living in Angola is low, with most Angolans lacking access to basic necessities such as food, clean water, education, and healthcare. The country has one of the worst life expectancies in the world, with an average life expectancy of around 50 years for men and 54 years for women. Infant mortality rates are significantly higher than the global average, at 38.78 per thousand births.

The reasons for Angola's poor standard of living and low life expectancy are complex and multifaceted. Some of the contributing factors include:

• Widespread poverty: A large portion of the population lives below the poverty line, lacking access to basic necessities and social services.
• Civil conflict and political instability: Angola has a history of violent conflicts and political unrest, including a protracted civil war that lasted from 1975 to 2002.
• Food shortages: Food insecurity is a significant issue, with many people facing challenges in accessing sufficient and nutritious food.
• Lack of adequate healthcare: The healthcare system in Angola is underdeveloped and lacks the necessary infrastructure and resources to meet the needs of the population.
• Infectious diseases: Angola has a high burden of infectious diseases such as diarrheal disease, lower respiratory infections, malaria, and AIDS, which contribute to high mortality rates, especially among infants and young children.

Addressing the challenges of poverty, inequality, and inadequate healthcare is crucial to improving the standard of living and reducing infant mortality in Angola. The government and international organisations have implemented various initiatives to tackle these issues, but sustained efforts and investments are needed to bring about long-term improvements.

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