Angola

• the 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

party to:

Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea

signed, but not ratified:

Climate Change

0-14 years:

45% (male 2,471,108; female 2,401,631)

15-64 years:

52% (male 2,864,152; female 2,831,209)

65 years and over:

3% (male 137,432; female 158,980) (July 1998 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.86 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

noun:

Angolan(s)

adjective:

Angolan

conventional long form:

Republic of Angola

conventional short form:

Angola

local long form:

Republica de Angola

local short form:

Angola

former:

People's Republic of Angola

• 18 provinces (provincias, singular-provincia);
• Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire

chief of state:

President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)

head of government:

Prime Minister Fernando Franca VAN DUNEM (since 8 June 1996)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:

• President DOS SANTOS originally elected without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections in 28-29 September 1992, the last elections to be held, (next to be held NA);
• prime minister appointed by the president and answerable to the Assembly

election results:

• DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place finisher Jonas SAVIMBI;
• the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election;
• the civil war was resumed

• Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975;
• National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Jonas SAVIMBI], is the largest opposition party and engaged in years of armed resistance before joining the current unity government in April 1997

note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly

chief of mission:

Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"

chancery:

1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 760, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:

[1] (202) 785-1156

chief of mission:

Ambassador Donald K. STEINBERG

embassy:

No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda

mailing address:

International mail: Caixa Postal 6484, Luanda; Pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550

telephone:

[244] (2) 345-481, 346-418

total:

2.783 million economically active

by occupation:

agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.)

• petroleum;
• diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold;
• cement;
• basic metal products;
• fish processing;
• food processing;
• brewing;
• tobacco products;
• sugar;
• textiles

• bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains;
• livestock;
• forest products;
• fish

total value:

$4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

commodities:

crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

partners:

US 70%, EU

total value:

$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities:

• capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), vehicles and spare parts;
• medicines, food, textiles and clothing;
• substantial military supplies

partners:

Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain

total:

2,952 km limited trackage in use because of land mines still in place from the civil war (1997 est.)

narrow gauge:

2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge

total:

72,626 km

paved:

18,157 km

unpaved:

54,469 km (1996 est.)