The 1996 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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) 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 debt: $12 billion (1995 est.)

      Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $189 million (1993)

      Currency: 1 new kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei

      Exchange rates: new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 900,000 (official rate 25 April 1995), 1,900,000 (black market rate 6 April 1995), 600,000 (official rate 10 January 1995), 90,000 (official rate 1 June 1994), 180,000 (black market rate 1 June 1994); 7,000 (official rate 16 December 1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993); 3,884 (July 1993); 550 (April 1992); 90 (November 1991); 60 (October 1990)

      Fiscal year: calendar year

      Transportation———————

      Railways:

       total: 2,952 km (1995 est.); note - limited trackage in use because

       of landmines still in place from