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

AO

transitional government, nominally a multiparty
democracy with a strong presidential system

Luanda

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

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August
1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use
of free markets

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September
1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since January
1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without
opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in
Angola's first multiparty elections 28-29 September 1992, the last
elections to be held (next to be held NA)
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 (40.1% of the vote); 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 resumed

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%,
others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3,
others 7

Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the
Supreme Court are appointed by the president

Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia
de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or
FNLA ; National
Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA ,
largest opposition party engaged in years of armed resistance before
joining the current unity government in April 1997; Popular Movement
for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA  ruling
party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or PRS [disputed
leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections
but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly

Front for the Liberation of the
Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO; Antonio Bento
BEMBE]
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed
struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province

ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, 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, WTrO

chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"
chancery: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:  (202) 785-1156
FAX:  (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general: New York

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN
embassy: number 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:  (2) 345-481, 346-418
FAX:  (2) 346-924

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)