FOREIGN
RELATIONS
From 1975 to 1989, Angola was aligned with the Soviet Union and Cuba. Since then, it has focused on improving relationships with Western countries, cultivating links with other Portuguese-speaking countries, and asserting its own national interests in Central Africa through military and diplomatic intervention, though ties with Cuba remain strong. Angola joined the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in order to improve ties with its largely anglophone neighbors to the south. In 1997, Zimbabwe and Namibia joined Angola in a military intervention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Angolan troops fought in support of the Laurent and Joseph Kabila governments. Angola has likewise intervened in the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) in support of President Sassou-Nguesso. Angola has also engaged in a more robust economic relationship with the People's Republic of China. The P.R.C. has extended over U.S. $7 billion in credit to Angola, while Brazil and Germany have extended lines of credit worth billions of dollars.
Multilaterally, Angola has promoted the revival of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) as a forum for cultural exchange and a means of expanding ties with Portugal and Brazil. During the peace process, the government fully cooperated with the UN Mission in Angola (UNMA), which concluded its mandate in mid-February 2003. Angola concluded a 2-year term on the UN Security Council in December 2004. In June 2007, it began a 3-year term on the Human Rights Council.
U.S.-ANGOLAN
RELATIONS
The U.S. Mission in Angola includes four agencies--the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC). In addition, a variety of federal agencies maintain relationships with the Angolan Government through ongoing projects, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Development Agency, and the Department of Energy.
The United States and Angola established formal diplomatic relations in 1993. Thereafter, the U.S. played a role in facilitating the Lusaka Protocol that sought an end to Angola's long-running civil war. Since war's end in 2002, United States foreign policy goals in Angola have sought to consolidate peace and security, promote economic prosperity, improve health, and encourage Angola's transition to democracy and respect for human rights. The U.S. has worked in partnership with Angola to remove thousands of landmines and help war refugees and internally displaced people return to their homes.
USAID's development program is consistent with the country's status as a developing country at a pivotal juncture in its development and reconstruction. In FY 2008, the program budget was $40.1 million and focused on: a) election support, civil society strengthening, and improved governance through decentralization; b) economic analysis and economic policy reform, with a large focus on access to credit, agricultural productivity, and expanded trade and investment; and c) control of malaria and HIV/AIDS; and maternal and child health, including family planning and immunizations. The largest program is the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), which seeks to halve deaths due to malaria by 2010. U.S. Government resources are complemented by resources from several public-private partnerships.
To assist with economic reform, in FY 2007 USAID provided $2.23 million to work on land tenure, economic policy, and the financial sector. An additional $143,000 in grants helped community development projects and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) strengthen democracy and human rights. Some $152,000 in International Military Education and Training (IMET) funds supported English-language training for the Angolan Armed Forces. Professional training for law enforcement personnel at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Gaborone, Botswana continued. The Safe Skies for Africa program provided some $800,000 in equipment and training to the Angolan civil aviation authority. As part of its public diplomacy program, the Embassy underwrote nearly $434,000 in English-language training, educational exchanges and fellowships, and information resource services. The State Department funded ongoing landmine, small arms, and munitions destruction projects throughout the country, for a total value of $6 million. These projects have played a major role in clearing agricultural land, opening critical road networks and increasing access in those areas of the country most impacted by landmines.
At the same time, the energy-based U.S. trading relationship continues to expand
and spark other ties. One offshoot has been the development of a Sister City
relationship between Lafayette, Louisiana, and Cabinda, and between Houston,
Texas, and Luanda. The Catholic University of Luanda has close links with a
number of American institutions and has received support from the Angola
Educational Assistance Fund, a U.S. non-profit organization organized by
Citizens Energy of Boston. Sonangol has a longstanding program of educating its
professionals in U.S. universities, complementing Chevron's policy of U.S.
training for its own growing pool of Angolan professionals.
DEFENSE
The Angolan Armed Forces, known by its Portuguese acronym FAA, are headed by a
chief of staff who reports to the civilian minister of defense. There are three
services--the army, navy, and air force. The army is by far the largest of the
services with about 110,000 personnel. The navy numbers about 3,000 and operates
several small patrol craft and barges. Air force personnel total about 7,000;
its equipment includes Russian-manufactured fighters and transport planes, Bell
helicopters, and Italian trainers. The "Casa Militar," or presidential guard, answers directly to the Office of the President and is separate from FAA command and control structures.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Dan Mozena
Deputy Chief of Mission--Francisco Fernandez
USAID Director--Susan Brems
Defense Attaché--LTC Chris Grieg
The U.S. Embassy is located at Rua Houari Boumedienne No. 32, Miramar, Luanda, Angola. International mail: Caixa Postal 6484, Luanda, Angola; Pouch: Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550; telephone: (244) (222) 64-1000; fax: (244) (222) 64-1232.
