Angola
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Angola
Country name - conventional long form : Republic of Angola
Country name - conventional short form : Angola
Country name - local long form : Republica de Angola
Country name - local short form : Angola
Country name - former : People's Republic of Angola
Country code : AO
Government type : republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital - name : Luanda
Capital - time difference : UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Population : 12,531,357 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Angolan(s)
Nationality - adjective : Angolan
Languages : Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Currency (code) : kwanza (AOA)
Currency code : AOA
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk : very high
Major infectious diseases - note :
Angola is located Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The climate is semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April). The terrain is narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Angola is 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. President DOS SANTOS has announced legislative elections will be held in September 2008, with presidential elections planned for sometime in 2009.
