1 GeoFroggy

Background

Angola is rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but fighting picked up again by 1996. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on power. President DOS SANTOS held legislative elections in September 2008 and, despite promising to hold presidential elections in 2009, has since made a presidential poll contingent on the drafting of a new constitution.

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Area Comparative

Slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate
Semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Natural Hazards

Locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Environment Current Issues

Overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography Note

The province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Year

Map Reference

  • Africa

Irrigated Land 2003

  • 800 sq km

Area 2010

  • Total
    1,246,700 sq km
  • Land
    1,246,700 sq km
  • Water
    0 sq km

Coastline

  • 1,600 km

Geographical Coordinates

  • 12 30 S, 18 30 E

Land use 2010

  • Arable Land
    2.65%
  • Permanent Crops
    0.23%
  • Other
    97.12%

Terrain

  • Narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Elevation

  • Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  • Highest Point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m

Land Boundaries

  • Total
    5,198 km
  • Democratic Republic Of The
    Congo km
  • (of
    which km
  • Is The Boundary Of Discontiguous Cabinda Province)Republic Of The
    Congo km
  • Namibia
    1,376 km
  • Zambia
    1,110 km

Natural Resources

  • Petroleum
  • Diamonds
  • Iron ore
  • Phosphates
  • Copper
  • Feldspar
  • Gold
  • Bauxite
  • Uranium
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