Everything you need to know about Angola: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more

One of Africa's Major Oil and Diamond Producers, Angola is also one of the world's Poorest Countries

Angola is a country in south- central Africa is the second-largest petroleum and diamond producer in sub-Saharan Africa. Angola was a Portuguese colony from the 16th century to 1975 and after gaining its independence from imperial power the civil war engulfed the whole country. A decade long of civil war was ended in 1999 after peace treaty between political parties and rebel groups along with the intervention of United Nation Peacekeeping Forces.
Angola faces the problem of rebuilding its infrastructure, retrieving weapons from its heavily armed civilian population and resettling of thousands of refugees who fled from civil fighting. Landmines and blocked roads have cut off large parts of the country and remain a hurdle in development programs. Many Angolans rely on food aid from UN Agencies.
Much of Angola’s crude oil reserve lies in Cabinda province, where a decades-long separatist conflict are still going on. The government has sent thousands of troops to subdue the rebellion in that region but it remains a Herculean task for UN Agencies and newly elected government.
Angola Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures:

· National Name: The Republic of Angola
· Capital: Luanda
· Total area: 1.25m sq km (481,354 sq miles)
· Population: 17 million (UN, 2007)
· Currency: Kwanza
· Languages: Portuguese (official), Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo
· Ethnicity/ Races: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
· Religion: Indigenous 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
· GDP (Per Capita): $6500 (2007 est.)
· Life Expectancy: life expectancy: 37.6
· Literacy Rate: 67.4% (2001 est.)

Geographical Information on Angola:

Angola lies on the Atlantic coast of southwestern Africa. It is small northern province of Cabinda that is separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Congo River. Angola’s has narrow coastal plain and it’s a densely populated region of Angola. It has high plateau with rain forests in the north and dry savanna in the south.
Angola has a tropical climate, with a dry season that lasts from September to April. The cool Benguela Current offshore moderates the temperatures of the coastal region and reduces the precipitation. Annual rainfall varies from 330mm to 50 mm.

Culture, Cuisine and Tradition of Angola:
Portuguese influence can be seen on the tribal culture of Angola. The Angolan culture is tribal culture and known as ‘Bantu Culture’. The imperialistic impact can be seen on the age-old culture of Bantu in Angola.

Angola has been a Portuguese colony for over 500 years. This has influenced Angolan Cuisine greatly. The Portuguese had given spices and techniques for marinating and roasting of traditional Angolan foods. With these influences the Cuisine of Angola produced new interesting recipes. The ingredients used in the coast of the country are a little different from the interiors. Since the country has various regions so one can find various Ethnic Cuisine in Angola. These different ethnic cultures of food preparation have given rise to various regional flavors of Angolan foods.

Tourist Attractions of Angola:

Angola is among the most visited tourist destinations in Africa. According to the Washington Post “Angola is a giant jigsaw puzzle of different climates, landscapes, cultures and colors.” Angola tourism destination is par excellence due to the rich traditional culture, glorified by beautiful beaches and a wild, mountainous interior. Angola is a beautiful place where one can witness nature’s beauty at its best. It’s place where wild nature provides wide range flora and fauna and can give close glimpses of nature by wandering in any of the wild life sanctuaries.

Major Sight-seeing Places in Angola include:

· Cameia National Park
· Cangandala National Park
· Iona National Park
· Mupa National Park
· Coastline