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 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)
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 resumed
Legislative branch: 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of
the Supreme Court are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of years of armed resistance before joining the current unity note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly
Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
International organization participation: 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
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu" chancery: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US: 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
Flag description: 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)
Economy
Economy—overview: Angola is an economy in disarray because of more than 20 years of nearly continuous warfare. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP. Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, sporadic violence continues, millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country's food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich resources—gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, arable land, and large oil deposits—Angola will need to implement the peace agreement and reform government policies. The increase in the pace of civil warfare in late 1998 dims economic prospects for 1999 especially if the oil sector were to be damaged.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$11 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 0.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 53% services: 34% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 90% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 5 million (1997 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry and services
15% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: extensive unemployment and underemployment
affecting more than half the population (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $928 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963
million (1992 est.)
Industries: petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar,
bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish
processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar;
textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 1.86 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 24.73% hydro: 75.27% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.86 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Exports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton (1998)
Exports—partners: US 65%, EU, China (1997)
Imports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles and clothing; substantial military goods
Imports—partners: Portugal 21%, US 15%, France 14%, South Africa (1997)
Debt—external: $13 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $493.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei
Exchange rates: kwanza (NKz) per US$1—350,000 (February 1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995), 59,515 (1994); note—readjusted Kwanzas per US$1,000 through 1994, per US$1 thereafter
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 78,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: telephone service limited mostly to government
and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military
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