MOVING TO ANGOLA

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KEY FACTS

Official Name: Republic of Angola

Capital City: Luanda

Type of Government: Transitional government, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

Head of State and Government: Prime Minister Jose Eduardo dos Santos

Official Language: Portuguese

Area: 1,246,700 sq. km/481,360 sq. mi

Population: 13 million

Religion: Roman Catholic 38%; Protestant 15%; Indigenous beliefs 47%

Currency: Kwanza (KZR)

Number of Time Zones: 1

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 1 hr; Eastern Standard Time (EST) plus 6 hrs.; Daylight Saving Time is not observed

Weights and Measures: Metric system

Country Domain: .ao

Country Tel Code: 244

AT A GLANCE

Politics

The constitution of Angola was adopted in 1975, but many of its provisions have not yet been implemented. Basically, the government is in transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy. The one presidential election was held in 1992 and was won by the MPLA. Currently it holds 191 seats in parliament; UNITA has the second-largest representation in parliament, with 16 seats. A parliamentary election was held in September of 2008, but further presidential elections have been postponed until further notice. An election scheduled for September 2009 was postponed.

The constitution provides for a president with strong executive power. The president appoints the prime minister and other members of the Council of Ministers. The Council has the power to enact laws, pass decrees and resolutions, and thus control the legislative agenda. The president also influences the legal system through his power to appoint members of the Supreme Court. The official legislative body, the National Assembly, consists of 220 deputies elected to four-year terams. At present, the Assembly has little real power.

The death, in early 2002, of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi stirred hopes of peace and spurred the ceasefire signed in April of that year. Since that time, the country has struggled to rebuild the infrastructure and regain some stability.

Economy

While it is rich in natural resources, Angola faces the massive challenge of stabilizing and developing its institutions, restoring and expanding its economy, resettling its refugees, and creating a healthier and safer environment for its people. The Lusaka Protocol Peace Accord has laid the foundation to achieve these goals, but peace is not yet a reality. Hundreds of thousands of landmines remain in the fields and farmers have been reluctant to return to their land. Although organizations have been working in Angola to remove the mines even before the war ended, Angola still must import about half of its food.

However, despite concerns of political instability, violence and crime, lack of adequate facilities, and war-damaged infrastructure, the potential of Angola’s oil fields is so vast that international oil companies continue to invest and establish operations in Angola. The country joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in early 2007.

Most investment is concentrated in the oil and diamond industries. Despite government hopes to promote and develop other sectors such as ocean fishing and forestry, oil production accounts for about 85 percent of GDP. A US$1.4 billion IMF loan was approved in 2009.

UNDERSTANDING THE PEOPLE

The population of Angola is about 13 million; an accurate census has difficult to obtain because of the massive displacement of people during the civil war. Most of the population resides along the narrow coastal plain; approximately five million people live in the area around the capital, Luanda.

The population suffers from serious social and physical problems, including disease, malnutrition, illiteracy, and shortages of basic items; its life expectancy is one of the shortest in the world. Many children were orphaned during the civil war. The existence of millions of land mines throughout the country continues to cause death and injury, adding to Angola’s already large number of amputees. The tragic human cost of the land mines was publicized internationally by the visit of Diana, Princess of Wales, in early 1997, shortly before her death.

Ethnic makeup

Angolans are primarily of Bantu ethnic descent. The major ethnic groups are the Ovimbundu, the Kimbundu, the Bakongo, the Lunda and Chokwe, mestiço, mixed European and African, and European. Each ethnic group has tended to remain in a particular geographic area, although migration and dislocation caused by the civil war have somewhat disturbed this pattern.

The Ovimbundu are traditionally traders and farmers and live in the central and southeastern parts of the country.

The Kimbundu live in the Luanda area and to the east. This group had the most prolonged contact with the colonial rulers and assimilated more European culture than other groups.

The Bakongo live in the northwest part of the country and in the province of Cambinda.

The Lunda and Chokwe live in northeastern Angola and were little influenced by Portuguese culture. They remain today basically isolated from national politics.

The mestiços have political and economic influence disproportionate to their small numbers; they tend to be the most highly educated and skilled.

The civil war had deep ethnic roots and has intensified ethnic tensions. The government and its party, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), is headed by and mainly comprised of Kimbundu. The opposition National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) is headed by and comprised mainly of Ovimbundu.

Cultural traditions

The most important and best known traditional art form is the sculpture of the Chokwe. Some of the main pieces are ritual masks and stools supported by human figures, while others are items for practical use, including beautifully woven baskets. No item is considered strictly decorative or ornamental; each has a ritual meaning or practical application.

Written stories and poetry flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with the spread of literacy. Poetry and prose often lamented the situation of the native Angolans and expressed hopes for liberation.

Religion

The constitution guarantees freedom of religion, including the separation of church and state.

As a result of colonial rule and missionary activities, about half the population is Christian, with an estimated 38 percent Roman Catholic and an estimated 15 percent Protestant. The other half of the population holds indigenous beliefs. Christianity is often combined with traditional beliefs.

Language

Portuguese is the official language and is widely spoken. In addition, there are six national languages derived from Bantu; these languages are spoken mainly in their corresponding ethnic area. French may be encountered, but few people speak English.

Angolan attitudes

Toward women

Women are guaranteed equal pay for equal work, but in practice women do not receive equal compensation. Women suffer discrimination and are relegated to low-level positions in state-run industries. Violence against women is reported to be widespread.

Toward foreigners

The government encourages foreign investment, especially in commercial activities that increase exports, produce raw materials, and provide worker training.

Individual Angolans tend to be hospitable, although Caucasian foreigners may find some racial resentment directed toward them.

CITIES

Benguela

Established in 1617, Benguela was an important port during the years of the slave trade. In modern times, it has become a center for commercial fishing in the rich Atlantic waters.

About 133,000 people live in Benguela.

Cabinda

Cabinda is located on the coast in the separate, northern province of Cabinda. Because of the discovery of large oil deposits off the coast of Cabinda, it is the center of foreign oil interests in Angola. Home to about 44,000, Cabinda has a strong French colonial influence.

Huambo

Located inland on the plateau, Huambo is the second largest city in Angola. Its population is about 141,000. Before the civil war, Huambo was an important distribution point on the Benguela railroad that served the interior and points east. The government hopes to restore the railroad, which suffered extensive damage during the civil war.

Lobito

Lobito, home to about 136,000, has a port with a naturally deep harbor. Much of the harbor is inoperative because of war damage.

Luanda

Luanda is the capital, main port facility, and most important city in Angola. With an estimated population of 2.3 million, it is also the largest city in the country.

Luanda was developed in the 15th century for its deep natural harbor.

Colonial buildings that remain in Luanda display Portuguese influence of design and decoration. New buildings often reflect the colonial style.

Contrasting with the gracious colonial-style buildings in the city center are musseques, extensive mazelike neighborhoods of mud-brick shacks without sanitary facilities that encircle the center and are home to many of the dispossessed refugees who have fled to Luanda.

Lubango

Lubango was developed by white settlers who came from the Portuguese island of Madeira. These settlers introduced vegetation typical of that island. Located high on the inland plateau, Lubango was an important military base and supply town during the civil war. As a result, it was considered heavily fortified and not vulnerable to attack and suffered little physical damage.

Today, about 75,000 people live in Lubango.

CLIMATE

Angola has a pleasant climate for a tropical country. The coastal region is rather cool and dry; inland regions are temperate and may experience frost. There is a single wet season between October and March.

The coastal region has considerable fog and cloud cover; sunshine averages only four to six hours per day. Constant breezes along the coast keep temperatures lower than normal for a tropical region.

In Luanda

With the exception of February, March and April, which bring high heat and humidity and the heaviest rainfall, Luanda has a surprisingly good climate. The temperature rarely ranges lower than 18C/64F or higher than 38C/100F.

September and October bring the “pequeñas chuvas,” small rains, and the cool season, marked by overcast skies, runs from mid-May to mid-August.

Information provided in association with Living Abroad