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) was originally elected without opposition under a
one party system and stood for election in Angola's first multiparty
elections on 29–30 September 1992; 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
head of government: Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since
2 December 1992) was appointed by the president and is answerable to
the Assembly
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional): elections last held 29–30
September 1992 (next to be held NA); results (disputed) - percentage
of vote by party NA; seats (223 total) - seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao), judges of
the Supreme Court are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, is a legal party despite its history of armed resistance to the government; five minor parties have small numbers of seats in the National Assembly
Other political or pressure groups: Front for the Liberation of
the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of largest
faction (FLEC-FAC)
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
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"
embassy: 1819 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785–1156
FAX: [1] (202) 785–1258
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. STEINBERG embassy: No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda mailing address: C.P. 6484, Luanda; American Embassy, Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521–2550 (pouch) telephone: [244] (2) 345–481, 346–418 FAX: [244] (2) 346–924
Flag: 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)
Economy———
Economic overview: Angola is an economy in disarray. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80%-90% of the population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 50% to GDP. Despite the signing of a peace accord in November 1994 between the Angola Government and the UNITA insurgents, sporadic fighting continues and many farmers remain reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country's food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich resources - notably gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and arable land, in addition to its large oil deposits - Angola will need to observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform government policies.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $700 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 56% services: 32% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% monthly average (1994 est.)
Labor force: 2.783 million economically active by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 24% with extensive underemployment (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $928 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963
million (1992 est.)
Industries: petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco; sugar; textiles; cement; basic metal products
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 620,000 kW production: 1.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 189 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton,
manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest
products; fish
Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for
cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African
states
Exports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton partners: US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines, substantial military deliveries partners: Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain
External
