Part 19

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

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@Angola ------

Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994; the cease-fire is generally holding, but most provisions of the accord remain to be implemented.

Map ---

Location: 12 30 S, 18 30 E -- Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Zaire

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)

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Zaire

Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total area: 1,246,700 sq km land area: 1,246,700 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries: total: 5,198 km border countries: Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline: 1,600 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 20 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Moro de Moco 2,620 m

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 43% other: 32%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: population pressures contributing to overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Geographic note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire

People ------

Population: 10,342,899 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 2,340,804; female 2,275,689) 15-64 years: 53% (male 2,748,417; female 2,706,295) 65 years and over: 2% (male 128,067; female 143,627) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.68% (1996 est.)