Forgotten World (116): Angola
It’s time for another week of postings in my long-running series called Forgotten World – a look at parts of the world that hardly feature in our media or thoughts. You can check the previous 115 entries here.
Angola may not figure in many western minds but, according to “The World In 2008” produced by “the Economist”, this year it will experience the fastest annual growth rate (21%) of any country in the world, double that of China (10%). This growth will be desperately needed by the country’s 16M citizens because Angola is one of the world’s poorest countries and is striving to tackle the physical, social and political legacy of the 27-year civil war that ravaged the country after it gained its independence from Portugal in 1975.
Angola is one of Africa’s major oil producers but much of the country’s oil wealth lies in Cabinda province, where a decades-long separatist conflict simmers. The government has sent thousands of troops to subdue the rebellion in the enclave, which has no border with the rest of Angola. Human rights groups have alleged abuses against civilians.
Angola has been ruled for almost three decades by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and his political party Movimento Popular de Libertacao de Angola (MPLA), but the first legislative elections in 16 years may be held this year.