On November 11, 1975, Angola became an independent country – People’s Republic of Angola – when they declared their independence from Portugal.  In 1979, Jose Eduardo dos Santos (dos Santos) became President at age 37.  He remains the President today.  He is a member of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (PMLA) party.  After taking office, he continued the fight with the UNITA (National Union for the Total Integration of Angola) party – a rival liberation movement during the Portuguese rule who never recognized MPLA as the legitimate government of Angola.  This civil war languished with support from the United States and South Africa, who was backing UNITA.  Finally, the dos Santos government was recognized by the United States in the Spring of 1993, when UNITA refused to turn over land (containing the oil and diamonds) to dos Santos.  The cost of this civil war to Angola was immeasurable and will not be fully known for years, but is estimated to have affected more than 400 million Angolans.

Then there is Cabinda where most of Angola’s oil reserves are found.  Angolan forces invaded Cabinda in 1975.  There remain factions of separatists to this day in Cabinda, who, as late as January 9, 2010, attacked and killed Togo footballers on the way to the African Nations Cup.  Their proclaimed leader stated: “We are in full action.  This is only the start.  The country is in a state of war so it’s perilous for those who want to go to Cabinda.”  He went on to say, “Cabinda is a territory, a country, a people that aspires to liberation like other peoples of the world.”  Cabinda is not going to stop fighting for their freedom; and, Angola is not going to give up the oil and diamonds in Cabinda without a fight.  And, so the civil wars continue to this date.

The Angola government formally change in 1992, from a socialist, one-party system to a multi-party, free market system.  However, President dos Santos’ administration is corrupt (skimming $1 billion of the $7 billion it receives annually) and the economy remains in shambles such that it must import food to feed its citizens.  Worse and more is headed your way – we are praying for your full and final destruction!!