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Angola

Population:12799293 (July 2010 est.)    Capital:Luanda    Official URL:http://www.parlamento.ao/
About: Angola was a Portuguese colony. The main groups who fought for independence were the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola), UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of... read more Angola was a Portuguese colony. The main groups who fought for independence were the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola), UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola), and the FNLA (National Front for Angola is slowly rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS has pledged to hold legislative elections in 2006.the Liberation of Angola). The MPLA received substantial backing from the Soviet Union and Cuba, UNITA from South Africa and the United States and the FNLA from Zaire and the United States. The conflict had become Civil War by the time Angola gained independence on 11 November 1975. On 1 September 1998 the Government of Angola suspended all UNITA Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the GURN and it created a movement called UNITA Renovada, from among those in UNITA who no longer supported the military strategy of UNITA's leader, Dr Savimbi. The security situation throughout Angola continued to deteriorate. UNITA retook many areas originally handed over to state administration and heavy clashes took place. Against this background, the UN Secretary General recommended the withdrawal of the military elements of MONUA. The Security Council accepted this recommendation and terminated MONUA's mandate but allowed the human rights element to continue functioning.