Angola

Angola (officially called the Republic of Angola) is a country in Africa. The capital is Luanda. Angola is in the south of the continent.

Angola is a member state of the African Union, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, the Latin Union, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone and the Southern African Development Community.

History
Portugal built up its power in Angola from the late 15th to the middle 20th century.

After independence there was a civil war from 1975 to 2002. Cuba and the Soviet Bloc supported the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). South Africa supported the insurgent anti-communist National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The war ended after the rebel leader was killed.

Geography
Angola is the world's twenty-third largest country. Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north-east, and the South Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Climate
Angola's average temperature on the coast is 16 C in the winter and 21 C in the summer. It has two seasons; dry (May to October) and hot rainy (November to April).

Demographics
Angola's population is estimated to be 18,498,000 (2009).

Provinces
Angola is divided into eighteen provinces.

See List of settlements in Angola for the cities and towns in the country.

Related pages

 * Angola at the Olympics
 * Angola national football team
 * List of rivers of Angola