Angola is located in Southwestern Africa. To the north and east of Angola lies the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (formerly Zaire) on the east is Zambia, and to the south is Namibia. The Atlantic ocean lies all along the western border of Angola. There is a small part of Angola, an exclave, that is located in the Republic of Congo, along the coast. (click here to see the map)

The capital and largest city in Angola is Luanda. It is located on the coast and has a population estimated at 1.5 million people.

Portugal played a large part in Angola's history as did the slave trade. The Portuguese entered what is now Angola in 1483. During the years to follow a booming slave trade was established and by the late 1800's an estimated 3 million people had been shipped out and sold in North and South America. Even though the presence of the Portuguese was overpowering, Portugal was not to gain full control of the interior of Angola until the early 1900's. Under Portugal's rule education of the national population was neglected, the economy was exploited, and politically the people had very little, if any, influence. During the 1950's a nationalist movement was started and by 1961 a guerrilla war began against Portuguese rule.

At this same time trouble was brewing in other Portuguese colonies in Africa. As well as the Angolan uprising in 1961, Portuguese Guinea revolted in late 1962, and in the fall of 1964 Mozambique began what would become their war for independence. Portugal dispatched troops to each of its territories and began to put in place some economic and political reforms, but these measures did not appease the heartfelt need for independence that was actually sweeping through many countries of Africa at this time. The revolt continued through several years. It wasn't until November 11, 1975 that Angola gained its independence. However this was not the end of the strife for Angola.

Two governments claimed to represent Angola, the MPLA (the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) and the UNITA/FNAL (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola)/(National Front for the Liberation of Angola). Thus a civil war began and by 1976 the MPLA had gained support and their leader Agostinho Neto was gradually recognized throughout the world.

Neto died in 1979, passing the leadership role to Jose Edwardo dos Santos. Although the FNLA forces had stepped down, the UNITA forces, supported militarily by South Africa and the United States, continued skirmishes throughout the country. In March 1991 the two sides signed a peace accord and President dos Santos called for multiparty elections to be held in September 1992. The outcome of the elections weren't what Jonas Savimbi had hoped, he rejected the results as fraudulent and resumed the war at an intensified level. In 1993 the U.S. and other foreign powers officially ended their support of the warring factions. By the end of the civil strife in 1994, 500,000 people had been killed and another 3.6 million Angolans were refugees. The peace was short-lived however and even today skirmishes and gunfire are still a part of life in Angola.

Portuguese is the official language of Angola, with tribal Bantu languages spoken frequently at home and in less formal settings.

As you can imagine, Angola's economy has suffered great setbacks with all the warring and unrest. In the early 1990's famine conditions were present in Angola simply because the fighting disrupted agricultural production. Coffee is the leading crop exported by Angola. Subsistent crops include cassava, sugarcane, bananas and corn. Timber is also a source of revenue, as is fishing, primarily for sardines and mackerel. Angola is also rich in minerals including petroleum, gem quality diamonds, salt and natural gas. Iron ore is present, but has not been mined since 1975 when the mines were partially destroyed during the civil war.

Angola has great hydroelectric potential and facilities to produce hydroelectricity have been built. But the problems of supplying electricity to the people and keeping it serviced make Angola a place where having electricity is a luxury.

God is present in Angola today. There are many who claim to be Roman Catholic. A few profess Christian beliefs. Still others practice traditional religions including ancestor worship and divination. Yet God is still present in Angola. He loves the people of this war-torn land. He wants them to come to a saving knowledge of Himself, and many are. So much suffering has happened and continues even today. There are an estimated 9 million landmines still in Angola. So much suffering that man has put on himself, so many physical hardships. Yes, the people of Angola have war around them, but they can have peace reign in their hearts. God is offering that peace to them, through the missionary presence in that land.

Pray for the missionaries to Angola. Lack of what most of us consider essentials like water and electricity make Angola a hard place to live. Then there is the sporadic gunfire and the question of safety. These missionaries could live in an easier place, choose an easier assignment. But they are there because God loves the people of Angola, and He wants them to hear the Good News that peace can reign in their hearts.

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