Brittany+C.+-+ALD+-+SP11

=**__Angola __**=

__**Overview **__

After a 27 year civil war Angola is beginning to rebuild its country. The civil war first began in 1975 when Angola achieved independence from Portugal. As of today there is extreme tension between Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the rebel group National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Even before the war, the two groups weren’t on good terms. When Angola held elections in 1992 there was peace but the UNITA didn’t like the outcome of the elections so the war continued. Since the beginning of the war until the end, there has been 1.5 million deaths and up to 4 million people have been displaced from their homes. A ceasefire was signed in April 2002 to end the fight since Jonas Savimbi (leader of UNITA) was killed. Now that fighting has stopped Angola now has to face the tasks of rebuilding a whole country. There tasks include retrieving dangerous weapons and organizing the extreme amount of refugees who fled during the war. Getting these tasks done are difficult since land-mines have cut off major roadways.


 * __Jose Eduardo dos Santos __**

Jose Eduardo dos Santos is the current president of Angola. Jose Eduardo dos Santos has led Angola ever since 1979, when the country’s first president died.

**Before being president**: Jose Eduardo dos Santos was born in the year 1942. At the age of 19 joined the MPLA's (Movement for the Liberation of Angola) guerrilla army. Previously in time Jose Eduardo dos Santos was in the Soviet Union where he was trained in oil engineering and radar technology. His most recent occupation before becoming president was a ministerial post.


 * Supporters on behalf of Jose Eduardo dos Santos: **

1) Recently the opening of the 9th edition of the National Camping of University Students was held. At this event the governor of southeastern Kuando Kubango, Eusebio de Brito Teixeira, considered the head of State, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, as champion of the national reconstruction process aimed at providing the well being of Angolans. His exact words were that "Santos is a peacemaker and promoter of unity and reconciliation of Angolans." He also mentioned that they are rising in development.

2) Jose Eduardo dos Santos not only takes care of his own country but also provides help to others. Cote d'Ivoire was experiencing difficult criticism. In the words of Gustavo Bola (president The Club of Friends of Angola), “For us, friends of Angola in Cote d'Ivoire, it is a satisfaction to express our gratitude to His Excellency Mr. President of the Republic, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, for his spirit of solidarity and brotherhood. During difficult times for the Ivorians, President Eduardo dos Santos and his people stood by our side.”

3) Jose Eduardo dos Santos just had a meeting with African counterparts Nigeria, South Africa, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire. This meeting was to "assure Angolan's standing which is for adopting peaceful ways to overcome the situation in that West African country, as well as preserving peace, stability and democracy." Each country agreed that this would truly be the way to go.

__Benchmarks__:

In the 2010 Ibrahim Index of African Governance Angola scored 42nd out of all of Africa. It may not be the best out of all the countries but it is difficult for the country to bounce back from a 27 year war. Many schools, villages, places of work were all demolished in the war. Jose Eduardo dos Santos realizes that by not providing the country with the best of the best may be a downfall, the current benchmarks for example are quite low. But in all honesty Jose Eduardo dos Santos is trying his hardest. His first priority is to get the country to a state of peace. Once there isn't as much fighting and killing then can he continue on a develop this country. With peace in mind the country would be able to flourish and prosper a lot more than what is currently.


 * __The 2010 Ibrahim Index of African Governance __**

Safety and Rule of Law: 44 Personal Safety: 49  Rule of law: 40 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Accountability and Corruption: 19 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">National Security: 68

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Participation and Human Rights: 44 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Participation: 36 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Rights: 37 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Gender: 60

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Sustainable Economic Opportunity: 36 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Public Management: 50 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Private sector: 39 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Infrastructure: 18 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Environment and the Rural Sector: 38

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Human development: 33 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Health and Welfare: 46 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Education: 19

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">__**Geography**__: Angola is on located in southern Africa on the western Atlantic Coast. The countries that border Angloa are Namibia and the Republic of Congo. The size of this country is a little less then the size of Texas doubled.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**__Population__:** 13,068,161

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**__Economy__:** Angola is experiencing a fast-growing economy largely due to a major oil boom. Each day Angola is producing 1.948 million bbl/day. This ranks Angola at 17 in oil production in the world. The oil provides 85% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) also, the export of diamonds contributes another 5%. The rest of the GDP comes from agriculture. This is typically the main source of income for the people of Angola. Even though the economy is rising many of the people of Angola are living on less than a dollar a day.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">As you can see from the graph above, profits from oil have greatly increased since 1997.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Social Structure: **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Social Structure: The Basic structure consist of an upper class and lower class. This was developed even before the twentieth-century, when the rich trading families came together and basically shunned the gentio (peasants). Then as time progressed on a hierarchy structure was established. When the Portuguese rulers were in charge they gave some advantages to African assimilated people over the great majority of indigenous people.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">"President Dos Santos Honoured." Africa News Service 15 Feb. 2011. Student Resource Center - Gold. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">"President Dos Santos Talks With African Counterparts." Africa News Service 1 Feb. 2011. Student Resource Center - Gold. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.