Angola
Capital: Luanda (est. pop. 6.0 million); Huambo (1.5 million); Benguela (1 million); Lobito (1 million).
Population: (2011 est.): 18,000,000. Angola has not had a census since the early 1970s.
People Groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mixed racial 2%, European 1%.
Languages: Portuguese (official), Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo, and others.
Religions: (2001 official est.): Roman Catholic 68%, various Protestant 20%, indigenous beliefs 12%.
Government: Type: Republic.
Branches: Executive–elected president – chief of state (President Jose Eduardo dos Santos) , vice president, 2 ministers of state through whom other ministers are expected to report, 28 ministers, 21 secretaries of state, and 39 deputy ministers.
Legislative–elected National Assembly (220 seats; 3 seats are reserved for Angolans out of the country and remain vacant).
Judicial–Supreme Court,
Elections are due to be held this year under a new constitution and President dos Santos is expected to be returned as president.
History: The Portuguese first landed in northern Angola in 1482 and over time took control through treaty and military action. Full control of the interior only occurred in the 20th century.
The country became the biggest supplier of slaves for South America, the United States and African sugar plantations. When slavery ended in the 19th century, a system of forced labour took over which was only outlawed in 1961.
The Portuguese refused to consider independence, encouraging white immigration. Three main independence groups formed, each group with its own international supporters such as USA, South Africa and USSR and civil war raged from 1974 onwards. Despite a number of ceasefires and treaties, this continued for 27 years and inter-party antagonism still remains in some areas.
Living Conditions: The 27-year civil war ravaged the country’s political and social institutions. Daily conditions of life throughout the country mirror the inadequate administrative infrastructure as well as inadequate social institutions, for which government support is often weak. Many hospitals are without medicines or basic equipment, schools are without books, and public employees often lack the basic supplies for their daily work. Corruption is rife. The government estimates that 4.7 million people were internally displaced by the civil war. In March 2007, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Angola jointly celebrated the end of a 5-year organized voluntary repatriation program that returned home more than 400,000 Angolan refugees. Life expectancy (2011 est.)–total population 38.76 years.
Pray for:
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Peaceful elections later this year.
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Release from the tradition and heritage of slavery and bondage.
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Discovery of the Men of Peace.
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A desire among the people for true Christianity.
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An opening for a vision-sowing visit by CPM leaders.