Cabinda Angola
(C) Africa Overview
Angola continued to be plagued by the protracted civil war between the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Angolan Government. Several international terrorist attacks originating in this conflict occurred in 2000, while throughout the year members of the separatist group the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) took hostage several foreigners in Cabinda Province. ... The group's most significant incident for the year occurred on 24 May, when FLEC rebels kidnapped three Portuguese construction workers and one Angolan in Cabinda Province. ... [Read More]
Angola
In October 2002, the provincial government of Cabinda banned 17 religious groups for not being registered, for endangering lives with the unauthorized practice of medicine on the groups' members, and for illegally holding religious services in residences. ... [Read More]
Angola
The Ministry of Interior is responsible for internal security, a function that it exercises through the Angolan National Police (ANP), the Rapid Intervention Police (PIR), which was created in 1992 as an elite paramilitary force, and other organs of state security. The FAA are responsible for protecting the State against external threats and for counterinsurgency operations against UNITA and have intervened in regional conflicts every year since 1996. The FAA also is involved in similar operations, although on a smaller scale, against the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda-Armed Forces of Cabinda (FLEC-FAC). The FAA claimed that it had integrated more than 12,000 UNITA soldiers since the 1999 fall offensive. The civilian authorities maintain effective control of the security forces; however, there were some instances in which the security forces acted independently of the Government, primarily because of poor discipline and participation in the conflict. Security forces ... [Read More]
Angola
During the period covered by this report, 17 religious groups remained banned in Cabinda on charges of practicing medicine on the groups' members, of illegally holding religious services in residences, and of not being registered. In October 2003, five ministers in Cabinda were sentenced to 35 days in jail for disobeying local authorities' orders to stop holding services in private residences and places of business. ... [Read More]
Current topics archive
September 10, 2004 - US Embassy Statement on Three Years After September 11March 10, 2004 - US State Department Report on Human Rights in AngolaFebruary 3 2004 - Embassy press release on Agribusiness Development in Cabinda is promoted through a Public Private Alliance with Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited (CABGOC) (representing Block 0 Association), ACDI/VOCA and USAIDFebruary 2 2004 - White House Fact Sheet on The President Bush's Fiscal Year 2005 Budget for the Emergency Plan for AIDS ReliefOctober 20, 2003 - Embassy press release on U.S. Support for Angolan NGOsOctober 17, 2003 - Embassy press release on U.S. Sponsorship of Training for an Angolan Delegation at the International Law Enforcement AcademyOctober 7, 2003 - Embassy Statement Regarding JA Article on Investing in AngolaSeptember 30, 2003 - Embassy press release on The U.S. Places New $20 Note in Circulation with Subtle Background ColorsSeptember 2 ... [Read More]
Most recent warden messages for American citizens
As of May 17, 2005, there are no new case of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Luanda, Cabinda, Kwanza Sul, Kwanza Norte and Malange provinces. There are no reports of people contracting the disease in those provinces, as well as there are no active cases now reported in those regions. In Uige province, 3 new cases and 2 deaths were reported within Uige city. In Damba, Songo, Negage, Puri and Maquela do Zombo municipalities no new case was reported. Health officials recommend that normal sanitary precautions should be used, including frequent hand washing, to minimize any chance of exposure. ... [Read More]
Angola
FAA personnel were responsible for torture and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment, including rape, in Cabinda during the year. The Human Rights Report of Cabinda, published by the Cabinda civic association Mpalabanda, reported 50 cases of torture or cruel and degrading treatment during the year. Police were frequently accused of using torture and coerced confessions during investigations and often beat and released suspects in lieu of trials. Persons suspected of ties to FLEC were allegedly subjected to brutal forms of interrogation. During the year, a visit by the U.N. Special Representative for Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani, and a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) brought further attention to the problems in Cabinda. The large number of FAA troops deployed within the Cabindan population was identified as a major contributor to the human rights abuses. ... [Read More]
Angola
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Angola is a large, developing country in southern Africa. After gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, it was engulfed in a civil conflict that lasted for more than a quarter century. A cease-fire was called in April 2002, two months after the death of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi, and, on November 21, 2002, the government and former rebels signed a peace agreement that definitively ended the conflict. Fighting has ended in all areas of the country except for the Cabinda enclave, where there have been very few recent reports of violence. There are growing signs of economic recovery. Nevertheless, major problems remain with virtually every element of infrastructure and government service throughout the country, including communications and basic soci ... [Read More]
EMBASSY LATEST WARDEN MESSAGE ON THE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER IN UIGE PROVINCE, ANGOLA
As of May 17, 2005, there are no new case of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Luanda, Cabinda, Kwanza Sul, Kwanza Norte and Malange provinces. There are no reports of people contracting the disease in those provinces, as well as there are no active cases now reported in those regions. In Uige province, 3 new cases and 2 deaths were reported within Uige city. In Damba, Songo, Negage, Puri and Maquela do Zombo municipalities no new case was reported. Health officials recommend that normal sanitary precautions should be used, including frequent hand washing, to minimize any chance of exposure. ... [Read More]
Angola (06/05)
The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), formed in 1974, rejects the Alvor Accords that included Cabinda as part of Angolan territory at independence. Since 1975, FLEC has engaged in low-level guerilla attacks against government targets and has periodically kidnapped foreigners in an effort to press for an independent Cabindan state. Leadership struggles within FLEC have led to its breakup into various splinter factions, two of which continue the movement's armed insurgency. The international community has rejected the notion of Cabindan independence. The Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) launched a major offensive against FLEC in November 2002. While the offensive was moderately successful, at least one of the FLEC factions retains a guerilla capability. Periodic, separate negotiations between the leadership of the two armed FLEC factions and the Angolan Government have failed to produce a settlement to the conflict. ... [Read More]
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