Angola is slowly rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS has pledged to hold legislative elections in 2006.
Country profile: Angola
One of Africa's major oil producers, Angola is also one of the world's poorest countries.It is striving to tackle the physical, social and political legacy of the 27-year civil war that ravaged the country after independence.
The ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the rebel group Unita were bitter rivals even before the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975. The Soviet Union and Cuba supported the then-Marxist MPLA, while the US and white-ruled South Africa backed Unita as a bulwark against Soviet influence in Africa.
AT-A-GLANCE- Politics: Preparations under way for elections in 2007 - the first since the end of civil war in 2002. Some speculation over the health of long-term President dos Santos
- Economy: One of Africa's leading oil producers, but most people still live on less than US $1 a day. Oil output increasing rapidly. Experiencing a post-war reconstruction boom
- International: China has promised substantial assistance to Angola, one of it's main oil suppliers
After 16 years of fighting, which killed up to 300,000 people, a peace deal led to elections. But Unita rejected the outcome and resumed the war, in which hundreds of thousands more were killed. Another peace accord was signed in 1994 and the UN sent in peacekeepers.
But the fighting steadily worsened again and in 1999 the peacekeepers withdrew, leaving behind a country rich in natural resources but littered with landmines and the ruins of war.
The connection between the civil war and the unregulated diamond trade - or "blood diamonds" - was a source of international concern. The UN froze bank accounts used in the gem trade.
Peace
The death of Unita leader Jonas Savimbi in a gunfight with government forces in February 2002 raised the prospect of peace and the army and rebels signed a ceasefire in April to end the conflict.
Angola faces the daunting tasks of rebuilding its infrastructure, retrieving weapons from its heavily-armed civilian population and resettling tens of thousands of refugees who fled the fighting. Landmines and impassable roads have cut off large parts of the country. Many Angolans rely on food aid.
Much of Angola's oil wealth lies in Cabinda province, where a decades-long separatist conflict simmers. The government has sent thousands of troops to subdue the rebellion in the enclave, which has no border with the rest of Angola. Human rights groups have alleged abuses against civilians.
A supplier of crude oil to the US and China, Angola denies allegations that revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement. Oil exports and foreign loans have spurred economic growth and have fuelled a reconstruction boom.
President: Jose Eduardo dos Santos
Jose Eduardo dos Santos, from the ruling MPLA, has led Angola since 1979, when the country's first president, Agostinho Neto, died.
All-party elections, the first since 1992, are due in 2006. But with many towns and villages remaining inaccessible, the president says repairs to roads and railways need to be completed before the vote can take place.
In the 1992 presidential poll he narrowly beat Unita leader Jonas Savimbi, who rejected the result and resumed his guerrilla war. There was no second round of voting in the poll, although Mr Dos Santos is recognised internationally as Angola's president.
Born in 1942, Mr Dos Santos joined the MPLA's guerrilla army at the age of 19. In the former Soviet Union he trained in oil engineering and radar technology. He held ministerial posts before becoming president.
The state controls all media with nationwide reach, including radio, the most influential medium. Television, the private press, and internet access are very limited outside Luanda. Angola's only daily newspaper, Jornal de Angola, and the terrestrial TV service TPA are state-owned and rarely criticise the government.
State-run Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) is the only outlet to offer programmes in indigenous languages such as Bantu. Private stations operate in the main cities, including Catholic station Radio Ecclesia, but RNA is the only available broadcaster across much of the country.
The constitution provides for freedom of expression but the government does not always respect this and private media outlets are liable to harassment. Anti-defamation statutes protect officials from reporting deemed "offensive".
Nevertheless, several private newspapers and radio stations have carried criticism of the government.
Pay-TV services are operated by MultiChoice Angola and TV Cabo; they carry some Brazilian and Portuguese channels.
The press
Television
Radio
News agency/internet
Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record oil prices and rising petroleum production. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about half of GDP and 90% of exports. Increased oil production supported 12% growth in 2004 and 19% growth in 2005. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons has led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. Much of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war. Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the countryside even though an apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for half of the population, but half of the country's food must still be imported. In 2005, the government started using a $2 billion line of credit from China to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure, and several large-scale projects are scheduled for completion by 2006. The central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas out of circulation, a policy that was more sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings, and has significantly reduced inflation. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to about 18% in 2005, but the stabilization policy places pressure on international net liquidity. To fully take advantage of its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to continue reforming government policies and to reduce corruption. The government has made sufficient progress on reforms recommended by the IMF such as promoting greater transparency in government spending but continues to be without a formal monitoring agreement with the institution.
Angolan natural resources include petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Angolan religion is indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.).
Natural hazards in Angola include locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau.
Travel Advice on Angola
SUMMARY
- We advise against all but essential travel to North and South Lunda Provinces, where you may be subject to movement restrictions or detention, and the interior of Cabinda Province, where there continue to be reports of violent incidents.
- You should only travel to areas of Angola outside Luanda in the company of persons or organisations experienced in local conditions, as travel can be difficult and dangerous.
- There is a high level of crime in Luanda. You should not walk around Luanda after dark.
- Most visits to Angola are trouble free. The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance is in relation to passports and identity documents. You should carry certified copies of passports and/or identity documents with you at all times.
- You should register with the Embassy on arrival, and de-register on departure.
- The threat from terrorism is low. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
There is a high level of crime in Luanda. Muggings (particularly to steal mobile phones), car-jackings and armed robberies can occur in any area at any time. A high proportion of the civil population is armed. Avoid walking around Luanda after dark.
Political Situation
Angola country profile
Local Travel
We advise against all but essential travel to North and South Lunda Provinces. The Angolan authorities are sensitive to the presence of foreigners in the diamond producing areas and you may be subject to movement restrictions or detention by the security forces. The presence of diamonds also increases the threat of crime and banditry.
Outside major urban areas, mines and unexploded ordnance are a significant problem. There have been incidents of mines exploding, with loss of life, in places previously thought to be safe. Even in "cleared" areas, you should keep to well-established routes and take local advice on the up to date situation from the United Nations or an international Non Governmental Organisation.
During the rainy season (November-April), bridges and roads risk being washed away by sudden floods and there is an increased chance of mines becoming displaced.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You should check all requirements with Angolan representation in the UK. Applications for visit or work visas for Angola must be made at the Angolan Embassy accredited to your country of residence.
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact Angolan representation in the UK.
HEALTH
There are several competent clinics run by expatriate organisations in Luanda, but otherwise health care is limited.
There was an outbreak of cholera in early 2006 in Luanda, which spread to many provinces in Angola. Cases are still being reported. Up to date information can be obtained from the World Health Organisation website. Routine food and hygiene measures should be observed whilst travelling in all parts of Angola (medical practitioners can advise). You should take particular care with any foods bought at the roadside or in the markets, drink or use only boiled/bottled water, and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to one of the affected areas in Angola you should consult a doctor immediately.
Rabies is endemic in most African countries. The rabies virus is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals and transmitted to humans through bites, scratches or contact of saliva with broken skin and can be fatal once symptoms manifest themselves. All travellers who have possibly been exposed to the rabies virus, whether by bites, scratches or other exposure, should seek medical advice without delay (even if pre-exposure vaccine was received). This also applies to travellers in low risk areas in case other animal-transmitted infections are present, or the animal may have strayed across the border from an endemic country. More information can be found on the National Travel Health Network and Centre website at: http://www.nathnac.org.
GENERAL
Our Embassy in Angola does not issue passports. Before you set off, you should ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months and has several unused pages remaining. Applications for new passports are accepted by the Consular Section at the British High Commission in Pretoria in person or by courier (if a courier is used, the cost will have to borne by the applicant.) In an emergency only, the British Embassy in Luanda can issue an Emergency or Temporary Passport. However, Emergency Passports are valid for a single journey only back to the UK using agreed transit points as necessary, or to Commonwealth countries providing prior arrangement exists with the authorities of the Commonwealth country concerned. The British Embassy in Luanda will be able to advise you which of these options suits your circumstances, and can supply the name of local courier companies in Angola.
You should register with the British Embassy in Luanda on arrival and de-register before leaving, either in person or via the British Embassy in Luanda , If you plan to travel outside the capital you should advise the Embassy of your destination.
Credit cards are only accepted in a very limited number of hotels and restaurants. Always ask whether your card will be accepted before incurring expenditure. Cash withdrawals are not possible. The very small number of Multicaixa ATMs in Luanda do not accept foreign cards. Travellers' cheques are not accepted. Funds may be sent from the UK to Angola (but not in the other direction) by Western Union who have a number of agencies in Luanda and elsewhere and whose details are listed on their website. You should bring enough cash for your needs or ensure that your sponsoring company or agency has made suitable arrangements. It is illegal to take kwanzas (the local currency) out of the country.