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Angola Law & Government
- Angola
Current issues: Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975. A cease-fire lasted
from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The
two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994 and the cease-fire is generally holding, but military tensions
persist and banditry is increasing. In order to bring armed insurgents under government control the peace accord of 20
November 1994 provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the Angolan armed forces. Military integration
began in June 1996 and a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation was installed in April 1997. Efforts which began in
May 1997 to extend government into UNITA-occupied areas are proceeding slowly. The original 7,200-man UN
peacekeeping force began a phased drawdown in late 1996. All UN peacekeepers are scheduled to depart by September
1997 but a small UN military observer force will probably remain in Angola through 1998.
Country name:
conventional long form : Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People's Republic of Angola
Data code: AO
Government type: transitional government, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system
National capital: Luanda
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango,
Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige,
Zaire
Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political
pluralism and increased use of free markets
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)
head of government: Prime Minister Fernando Jose de Franca Vieira Dias VAN DUNEM (since 8 June 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: President DOS SANTOS originally elected without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in
Angola's first multiparty elections in 28-29 September 1992, the last elections to be held, (next to be held NA); prime minister
appointed by the president and answerable to the Assembly
election results: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and
second-place Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of
Angola (UNITA) disputed the results of the first election; the civil war was resumed
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (223 seats; members elected by proportional
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results : percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], is
the ruling party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Jonas
SAVIMBI], is the largest opposition party and engaged in years of armed resistance to the government
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National
Assembly
Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"
chancery: 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 760, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX : [1] (202) 785-1258
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. STEINBERG
embassy: No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
mailing address: C.P. 6484, Luanda; American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 (pouch)
telephone : [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
FAX: [244] (2) 346-924
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a
five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)
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