Shelby+M.+-+ALD+-+SP11

Name: Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

Country of residence: Angola Angola is one of Africa's major oil producers. Despite that, they are one of Africa's poorest countries, with most people living on less than a dollar a day. Angola is still trying to recover from the 27-year civil war that ravaged the country but is now in the midst of a "post-war reconstruction boom" and China has promised to assist. Plus, oil exports and foreign loans have spurred economic growth. The population is 18.9 million people.

He joined the MPLA's guerrilla army at the age of 19. He trained in oil engineering and radar technology in the former Soviet Union. He held ministerial posts before becoming president.

REFERENCES: Jacob Zuma-President of South Africa Barack Obama-President of the United States of America Hu Jintao-President of China

SAFETY AND RULE OF LAW: Mr. dos Santos rarely makes pubic appearances, but when he does, he is constantly surrounded by heavily armed soldiers. As head of the armed forces, and the police, and through his chairing of the government's cabinet meetings and appointments, he keeps a firm grip on all aspects of power in his country. Angola has recently come out of a civil war between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the rebel group Unita that killed upwards of 300,000 people and refugees are still trying to find homes. PARTICIPATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS: Much of the country's media is under Mr. dos Santos' rule. The constitution calls for freedom of expression, but the government does not always respect that; state-run media services very rarely criticize the government. Mr. dos Santos also refuses all requests for interviews with international media. Elections were to be held in 2009, but in 2010 parliament approved a new constitution abolishing the action of directly voting for a president. Now the presidency will be filled by the top-ranking candidate of the party winning the parliamentary election. He will be in office until 2012. SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY: Angola is one of Africa's leading oil producers. Despite that, they are one of Africa's poorest countries, with most people living on less than a dollar a day. The GNI per capita is $3,490. Inflation in Angola is very high, but is decreasing. Angola's economic growth is swelling, with more and more of it due to non-oil related activities. Internet access is very limited. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: Many seek education in Algeria, yet the courses there are not worth the same amount of credits as they are in Angola. The two countries are working to resolve this conflict. The mortality rate for men is 47 years; women, 51 years.

"Algeria to Boost Cooperation." //Africa News Service // 11 Feb. 2011. //Student Resource Center - Gold //. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. __[|http://find.galegroup.com/gps/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type= retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=IPS&d ocId=A248784917&source=gale &srcprod=SRCG& userGroupName=pl7053&version=1.0] __ BBC. "Angola country profile."//BBC News//. N.p., 24 Nov. 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. <  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1063073.stm>. "Economy: Angola heads for 16% growth." //African Business // Oct. 2005: 8. //Student Resource Center - Gold //. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. < __[|http://find.galegroup.com/gps/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId= IPS&docId=A137670260&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName=pl7053&version=1.0] __>. "José Eduardo Dos Santos."//AFRICA CONFIDENTIAL//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. .