Angola

Angola is a country in southern Africa; it borders the Atlantic Ocean. It also borders the countries of Namibia, Zambia, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly known as Zaire).

Its capital city is Luanda.

History

It was originally a colony of Portugal, along with seven other territories. In 1975, it was granted independence by the new Portuguese government, a year after a revolution occurred in Portugal overthrowing the dictatorship of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. Angola was the site of a civil war, which tore the country apart, involving apartheid South Africa, Jonas Savimbi's UNITA (supported by South Africa), and the socialist MPLA. The civil war was the site of many battles. The war commenced after Angola became independent, and a socialist government, with support from the poor people of Angola, was chosen. Foreign forces from the racist administration of apartheid South Africa wished to turn Angola into a South African puppet state under the rule of Jonas Savimbi. Many people died because of the conflict, and money poured in from the United States to fund Savimbi and UNITA. This led to an upsurge in killings, perpetrated by UNITA warlords, and it provoked the MPLA to retaliate. The country of Angola was left in ruins because of the brutal war, and it is now a very poor country because of it.