Angola Civil War

Africa in 2000 witnessed an increase in the number of terrorist attacks against foreigners or foreign interests--part of a growing trend in which the number of international terrorist incidents on the continent has risen steadily each year since 1995. Most attacks stemmed from internal civil unrest and spillover from regional wars as African rebel movements and opposition groups employed terrorism to further their political, social, or economic objectives. International terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida, Lebanese Hizballah, and Egyptian terrorist groups, continued to operate in Africa during 2000 and to pose a threat to US interests there. ... [Read More]

Angola

U.S. Embassy officials and official visitors from the United States routinely meet with the country's religious leaders in the context of peacekeeping, democratization, development, and humanitarian relief efforts. Church groups are key members of the country's civil society movement and are consulted regularly by Embassy officials. Embassy officials, including the Ambassador, the Country Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and others, maintain an ongoing dialogue with the leadership of the country's religious denominations. The U.S. Government provides financial support to Radio Ecclesia to increase its public affairs and news programming as an independent alternative source of information to citizens. During the period covered by this report, the Embassy began funding dissemination of human and civil rights information through an ecumenical newsletter network. ... [Read More]

Angola

In colonial times, the country's coastal populations primarily were Catholic while the Protestant mission groups were active in the interior. With the massive social displacement caused by 26 years of civil war, this rough division no longer is valid. ...

The Minister of Justice has publicly warned that the colonial-era law banning non-Christian religions, while not enforced, still was the law and could be enforced against any radical religious groups advocating terrorism or public disturbances. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

The country has been engulfed in war and civil strife since its independence from Portugal in 1975. A peace accord, signed in 1994, brought a temporary halt to the civil war, but war erupted again in 1998. ...

Angola has been ravaged by warfare since initiation of the struggle for independence from the Portuguese in 1961. An estimated 450,000 people have been killed; 100,000 maimed; and 3.7 million people were orphaned or forced from their homes since the wars began. The war has severely damaged the country’s social institutions and infrastructure. The millions of dislocated people, orphaned children, and the lack of communications and transport between cities and the interior have all taken their toll. Daily conditions within the country, and in the capital city, Luanda, are difficult for most Angolans. Hospitals are without medicines or basic equipment; schools are without books; and public servants often lack the basic supplies for their day-to-day work. ... [Read More]

Angola

UNITA forces routinely violated citizens' rights in pursuit of military objectives. UNITA use of guerilla tactics during attacks against civilian populations resulted in hundreds of casualties. There were continued reports of deaths resulting from UNITA attacks on villages throughout the country and executions of suspected government supporters by UNITA forces (see Section 1.a.). The Government attributed the discovery of mass graves to UNITA actions (see Section 1.a.). Security forces failed to respond promptly to attacks on civilians, which contributed to civilian deaths and loss of property. For example, on April 15, UNITA forces killed seven civilians after they attacked Dombe-Grande in Benguela province and looted a warehouse holding relief supplies of humanitarian organizations (see Section 1.b.). After UNITA forces attacked Caxito on May 5, security forces did not arrive to assist civilians until several hours after the rebels had fled the town. In May 11 civilians were killed a ... [Read More]

Angola

Clashes between Government troops and the FLEC-FAC in Cabinda continued. Reports of civilians killed occurred throughout the year. The failure of the Government to provide adequate protection for civilians contributed to the number of civilian casualties. In January, two civilians died in Mikuma, Cabinda in fighting between the FLEC and the FAA. In a reprisal attack, an army special forces unit killed four men in Kaiu. On April 24, an unidentified armed group believed to be guerillas attacked Massabi, Cabinda, killing 6 and injuring 10 others. FLEC FAC forces reportedly tortured and killed at least one civilian. ... [Read More]

Angola (06/05)

The 27-year-long civil war ravaged the country's political and social institutions. The government estimates that 4.7 million people were internally displaced by the civil war. Since 2002, more than 300,000 of Angola’s original 450,000 refugees have returned home. In 2005, the anticipated final year for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) organized return program, an anticipated 53,000 refugees will be assisted in returning to Angola. Daily conditions of life throughout the country mirror the inadequate administrative infrastructure as well as weak social institutions. Government support for social institutions is inadequate. Hospitals are without medicines or basic equipment, schools are without books, and public employees often lack the basic supplies for their day-to-day work. ... [Read More]

Angola

SAFETY AND SECURITY:  The security situation in Angola has improved markedly since the end of the civil war; however, Americans should still exercise caution.  Although the war has ended, ground travel throughout Angola is problematic due to banditry and land mines, which were used extensively during the war.  Frequent checkpoints and poor infrastructure contribute to unsafe travel on roads outside of the city of Luanda.  Police and military officials are sometimes undisciplined, and their authority should not be challenged.  Travel in many parts of Luanda is relatively safe by day, but car doors should be locked, windows rolled up, and packages stored out of sight.  Visitors should avoid discretionary travel after dark, and no travel should be undertaken on roads outside of cit ... [Read More]

USAID in Angola

Finally, USAID is playing an important role in responding to Angola's transition following the end of a protracted civil war. USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) began implementing a two-year small grants program, which will complement existing and longer-term USAID programs in support of lasting democracy and peace in Angola. 1 ...

For almost thirty years Angola was engaged in a civil war that wrought incalculable human suffering, chronic insecurity, collapsed infrastructure, extreme poverty, and degradation of all basic social services. Of 173 countries, Angola ranks 161 in the human development index calculated annually by the U.N. Development Program. Average life expectancy is 45 years; 60 percent of the population lives below the poverty line; nearly half (45 percent) of Angolan children suffer from chronic malnutrition; and at 250 per 1,000 live births, the under five mortality rate is one of the highest in the world. Of the almost 8 million Angolans who are poor, more than 4 million depend on some form of humanitarian assistance to cover their most basic requirements. At the same time, Angola has demonstrated ability to achieve economic growth and improve the standards of living for its people. It is in this context that the USAID mission in Angola has developed a strategic plan for the five-year period, 2 ... [Read More]

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The United States leads the international humanitarian response to relieve the suffering of millions of Angolans affected by the civil war which ended in April 2002. We encourage regional stability, democracy, and economic development, while protecting the interests of American citizens in Angola and promoting the interests of U.S. business. ...

FOR INFORMATION ON MARBURG HEMORRHAGIC FEVER AS OF JUNE 16 IN ANGOLA, PLEASE CLICK HERE: wwwhlatestwardenmsgmarburg.html ... [Read More]