1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led
by Jonas SAVIMBI, remains a legal party despite its return to armed
resistance to the government; five minor parties have small numbers of
seats in the National Assembly
Other political or pressure groups:
Cabindan State Liberation Front (FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of
largest faction (FLEC-FAC)
note:
FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for
the independence of Cabinda Province
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jose PATRICIO
embassy:
1899 L Street NW, 5th floor, Washington, DC 20038
telephone:
(202) 785–1156
FAX:
(202) 785–1258
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Edmund DE JARNETTE
embassy:
Miramar, Luanda
mailing address:
CP6484, Luanda, Angola (mail international); US Embassy, Luanda,
Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20521–2550 (pouch)
telephone:
[244] (2) 39–24-98
FAX:
[244] (2) 39–05-15
Flag:
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)
@Angola, Economy
Overview:
Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80–90% of the
population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production is
vital to the economy, contributing about 60% to GDP. Bitter internal
fighting continues to severely affect the economy, and food must be
imported. In 1993, production fell by an estimated 22.6%, mainly
because of the capture by insurgents of the oil town of Soyo and
diamond-producing areas in northeastern Angola. Angola has rich
natural resources - notably gold, diamonds, and arable land, in
addition to large oil depoaits - but will need to end the war and
reform government policies if it is to achieve its potential.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
−22.6% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$600 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1,840% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% with considerable underemployment (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$928 million
expenditures:
$2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992
est.)
Exports:
$3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish
and fish products, timber, cotton
partners:
US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil
Imports:
$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles
and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines; substantial
military deliveries
partners:
Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain
External debt:
$8 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for about 60% of GDP, including petroleum
output
Electricity:
capacity:
510,000 kW
production:
800 million kWh
consumption per capita:
84 kWh (1991)
Industries:
petroleum; mining - diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite,
uranium, and gold; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco;
sugar; textiles; cement; basic metal products
Agriculture:
cash crops - bananas, sugar cane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cane,
manioc, tobacco; food crops - cassava, corn, vegetables, plantains ;
livestock production accounts for 20%, fishing 4%, forestry 2% of
total agricultural output; disruptions caused by civil war, and
marketing deficiencies require food imports
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70–89), $265 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–89),
$1.105 billion; Communist countries (1970–89), $1.3 billion; net
official disbursements (1985–89), $750 million
Currency:
1 new kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei
Exchange rates:
kwanza (Kz) per US$1 - 90,000 (official rate 1June 1994), 180,000
(black market rate 1 June 1994); 7,000 (official rate 16 December
1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993); 3,884 (July 1993);
550 (April 1992); 90 (November 1991); 60 (October 1990)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Angola, Communications
Railroads:
3,189 km total; 2,879 km 1.067-meter gauge, 310 km 0.600-meter gauge;
limited trackage in use because of landmines still in place from the
civil war; majority of the Benguela Railroad also closed