© DLIFLC Page | 1 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Geography ......................................................................................................... 5 Country Overview ........................................................................................................... 5 Geographic Regions and Topographic Features ............................................................. 5 Coastal Plain ............................................................................................................... 5 Hills and Mountains .................................................................................................... 6 Central-Eastern Highlands .......................................................................................... 6 Climate ............................................................................................................................ 7 Rivers .............................................................................................................................. 8 Major Cities .................................................................................................................... 9 Luanda....................................................................................................................... 10 Huambo ..................................................................................................................... 11 Benguela ................................................................................................................... 11 Cabinda ..................................................................................................................... 12 Lobito ........................................................................................................................ 13 Environmental Concerns ............................................................................................... 13 Natural Hazards ............................................................................................................ 14 Chapter 1: Assessment ...................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 2: History ............................................................................................................. 16 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 16 Early History ................................................................................................................. 16 Portuguese Colonization ............................................................................................... 17 Colonial Transition ....................................................................................................... 18 20th Century: Independence and Civil War .................................................................. 19 Recent Events................................................................................................................ 20 Cabinda: History and Current Status ............................................................................ 21 Chapter 2: Assessment ...................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 3: Economy ......................................................................................................... 23 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 23 Agriculture .................................................................................................................... 24 Industry ......................................................................................................................... 25 © DLIFLC Page | 2 Natural and Energy Resources ...................................................................................... 26 Oil Sector .................................................................................................................. 27 Mining and Minerals ................................................................................................. 28 Trade: Exports and Imports .......................................................................................... 29 Transportation ............................................................................................................... 29 Standard of Living ........................................................................................................ 31 Public vs. Private Sector ............................................................................................... 31 Economic Trends .......................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 3: Assessment ...................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 4: Society ............................................................................................................. 34 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 34 Ethnic Groups and Languages ...................................................................................... 34 Ovimbundu ............................................................................................................... 35 Kimbundu ................................................................................................................. 35 Kongo ........................................................................................................................ 35 Other Ethnic Groups ................................................................................................. 36 Religion: An Overview ................................................................................................. 36 Indigenous Religious Beliefs .................................................................................... 37 History of Christianity .............................................................................................. 37 Cuisine .......................................................................................................................... 38 Traditional Dress ........................................................................................................... 39 Gender Issues ................................................................................................................ 40 Arts ................................................................................................................................ 40 Sports and Recreation ................................................................................................... 42 Chapter 4: Assessment ...................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 5: Security ........................................................................................................... 44 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 44 U.S.–Target Country Relations ..................................................................................... 45 Relations with Neighboring Countries.......................................................................... 46 Namibia ..................................................................................................................... 46 Zambia ...................................................................................................................... 46 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) ............................................................... 47 © DLIFLC Page | 3 Republic of the Congo (ROC) .................................................................................. 48 Police Force and Military.............................................................................................. 48 Army ......................................................................................................................... 49 Navy .......................................................................................................................... 50 Angolan National Air Force (FANA) ....................................................................... 50 Issues Affecting Stability .............................................................................................. 51 Outlook ......................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 5: Assessment ...................................................................................................... 54 Final Assessment .............................................................................................................. 55 Further Readings ............................................................................................................... 57 © DLIFLC Page | 4 Chapter 1: Geography Country Overview Angola lies in southwestern Africa along the shore of the South Atlantic Ocean, spreading across an area of 1,246,700 sq km (481,353 sq mi).1 Almost twice as large as Texas, Angola borders Namibia to the south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north and northeast. It shares its southeastern border with Zambia. A small portion of northwestern Angola known as Cabinda Province