11 November 1975 – Angola Gains Independence

Angola, sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer, has had a tempestuous history. Bantu migrants first entered the region during the first millennium, and by the 12th century BCE kingdoms and empires were spread across the region. The Portuguese, enticed by stories of mythical silver mines in the interior, settled along the coast, and despite finding no evidence of silver, discovered another rich commodity – slaves. Angola's economy was dominated by the slave trade, acquired form African kingdoms, such as the Loango, further inland.

Slavery continued after it was legally abolished within the Portuguese empire in 1875, under the disguise of forced labor on coastal plantations. A situation which continued well into the 20th century. When the Belgian Congo achieved independence in 1960, anti-colonial movements developed in Angola, and the long struggle for independence began. Unfortunately for Angola, the liberation movements were supported by opposing sides of the Cold War; America for the União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA) and Russia for the Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA).

Independence was achieved in 1975 (with the coup in Portugal) but conditions didn't improve – opposing liberation movements declared themselves the ruling party and civil war erupted. Despite attempted peace negotiations and cease fires, the civil war officially continued until 2002.

Find Out More About the History of Angola:
• Biography of Antonio Agostinho Neto - doctor, poet and first president of Angola.
• Brief History of Angola – Kingdoms to Independence
• Brief History of Angola – Independence to Present Day
• Angola History Resources