| Country | Angola |
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| Flag |  |
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| Capital | name: Luanda geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 14 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
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| Population | 12,799,293 (July 2009 est.) |
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| GMT | +1 |
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| Location | Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
see map |
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| Area | total: 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km |
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| Ethnic groups | Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% |
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| Religions | indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.) |
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| Languages | Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages |
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| Government type | republic; multiparty presidential regime |
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| National holiday | Independence Day, 11 November (1975) |
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| Constitution | adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992 |
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| Legal system | based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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| Background | Angola is 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 fighting picked up again by 1996. 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. President DOS SANTOS held legislative elections in September 2008, and announced plans to hold presidential elections in 2009. |
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Internet country code | .ao |
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