Language/Portuguese/Culture/Angola-History

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Historical Timeline for Angola - A chronology of key events
Angola-Timeline-PolyglotClub.png

Angola-Timeline-PolyglotClub.jpg

Chronology and recent history of Angola[edit | edit source]

From African kingdoms to the war of independence against the Portuguese colonizer[edit | edit source]

  • XIII ° s-XVII ° s  : The Kongo kingdom has for capital Mbanza-Congo (current Angolan province of Zaire).
  • In the 15th century , Cabinda was made up of three principalities.
  • XVI ° -XIX °  : Kingdoms Matamba, Ovimbundu, Lunda, Solongo. Around 1500, the Congolese province of Ndongo becomes independent: its kings bear the title of Ngola, from which the future name of Angola derives.
  • 17th century  : Rivalry between the European powers (France, Portugal, the Netherlands) for the control of the area.
  • 1786  : Portugal's rights over Cabinda are recognized in exchange for the freedom of trade and slave trade from other European powers.

Portuguese colonization 1885-1975[edit | edit source]

  • 1885  : Berlin Conference: Cabinda becomes Portuguese protectorate. The Treaty of Simulambuco signed between Portugal and the King of Cabinda places the territory under Portuguese protectorate.
  • 1950s  : Foundation of independence groups: the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a politico-military movement supported by the USSR and chaired by Mario de Andrade, and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) , founded in 1957 by Holden Roberto and supported by the Western camp.
  • 1956  : Oil exploitation begins in Cabinda (research concessions delivered by Portugal to the North American company Gulf Oil).
  • 1957  : Angola and Cabinda are placed under the authority of a single administrator.
  • 1961  : February-March: Onset of the insurgency, the MLIC (Movement for the Struggle for the Independence of Cabinda) comes into conflict with the Portuguese army in Cabinda.
  • 1963  : Birth of the FLEC (Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda) resulting from the merger of the MLEC (Movement for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda) with other tendencies, headed by Ranque Franque.
  • 1964  : The Organization of African Unity (AU) publishes a list of countries to be decolonized which distinguishes Cabinda from Angola.
  • 1966  : Splitting of the FNLA, from which came the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), chaired by Jonas Malheiro Savimbi, who established his maquis in the south-east of the country.
  • 1967  : Formation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of a Cabindese government in exile.
  • Years 70-80  : Western companies (Elf-Aquitaine, Chevron-Texaco which replaces Gulf Oil) support the independence movements and want to control the area.
  • 1974  :
    • April  : The Salazar regime is overthrown in Portugal.
    • September  : The MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) announces the annexation of Cabinda by Angola.
    • November  : With the agreement of the new Portuguese government, the MPLA troops invade Cabinda and rule out any independence movement.
  • 1974  : April: The Carnation Revolution marks the end of the Salazar dictatorship in Portugal and paves the way for independence.
  • 1975
    • January  : The Alvor agreement marks the reunification of Cabinda with Angola. Divided, the FLEC failed militarily and politically and split into several factions.
    • November  : Proclamation of the independence of Angola.

Independent Angola and civil wars[edit | edit source]

  • 1975  : 
    • November 11  : The MPLA proclaims independence, Agostinho Neto leader of the MPLA becomes president of the People's Republic of Angola.
    • October  : Civil war between the MPLA, supported by the Cubans, UNITA and the FNLA (supported by South Africa).
  • 1977  : The MPLA becomes the Labor Party. Suppression of an attempted coup.
    • March: Angola supports the attempt to overthrow Mobutu by the Katangese gendarmes.
  • 1979  : José Eduardo dos Santos is appointed by the MPLA to succeed Agostinho Neto upon the latter's death.
  • Eighties  : Four independentist armed groups oppose and confront the Angolan troops.
  • Beginning of the 90s  : Negotiations between the government and the Cabindian separatists do not succeed.
  • 1991  : Establishment of a multiparty system. Bicesse Agreement (Portugal): (theoretical) end of the civil war.
  • 1992  : The People's Republic of Angola becomes the Republic of Angola. UNITA lost the legislative elections and took up arms again until 1994.
  • 1994  : Peace Protocol signed in Lusaka (Zambia).
  • 1995  : Savimbi accepts the result of the 1992 election.
  • 1997  : First government of national unity. The UN creates the United Nations Mission in Angola (MONUA) and sanctions Unita for non-compliance with the peace agreements.
  • 1998  : Violent clashes between UNITA and the government army in the province of Lunda Norte. Support from Angola and Zimbabwe to the Kinshasa regime attacked by Rwanda and Uganda.
  • 1999  : End of the UN peacekeeping mission.
  • End of the 90s  : The defeats of Mobutu (Zaire) and Lissouba (Congo-Brazzaville) deprive the Cabindais movement of its alliances. The separatists kidnap expatriates to ensure media coverage. Pressure from the Angolan army is strong, human rights violations are frequent and the press is censored.
  • Beginning of the 2000s  : The independence organizations remain active but disunited. After the death of Savimbi (UNITA) in February 2002, the Angolan army is more determined than ever to resolve the situation with arms.
  • 2000  : Vast offensives by UNITA.
    • November  : Amnesty.
    • May 2000, then March 2001  : Two factions of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) take the Portuguese hostage.
  • 2001  : The general elections are postponed.

The post-Savimbi or the taking in hand of José Eduardo Dos Santos[edit | edit source]

  • 2002-2003  : Major offensives by the government army against the FLEC, leading to heavy losses and massive population displacements.
  • 2002
    • February  : Savimbi is killed by the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).
    • April  : A memorandum of understanding between the government army and UNITA ends the conflict. 6-month mandate of MINUA to consolidate peace.
    • December  : Fernando da Piedade, known as "Nando", is appointed Prime Minister. Government of unity and reconciliation, agreement on a new Constitution. The UN lifts the last sanctions against UNITA.
  • 2004  : Helvoirt (Netherlands) agreements between the different pro-independence factions and creation of the Cabindais Forum for Dialogue (FCD).
  • 2005  : August: The National Assembly approves a new electoral law, a National Election Commission (CNE) is set up. President Dos Santos has installed a veritable oligarchy. In 2005, the government launched a campaign "exaltation of patriotism" with a view to elections at the end of 2006.
  • 2006  : August: Namibe Memorandum of Understanding between the government and representatives of Cabinda (including Beto Bembe former head of FLEC). This agreement, inspired by that concluded a few years earlier with Unita, is based on the renunciation of any independence claim (therefore the end of the armed struggle) and on the integration into government structures of FLEC officials. The protocol will not be followed by any effect, Beto Bembe being very quickly delegitimized within the independence movement.
    • November  : Beginning of the electoral census. Angola joins OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting and Producing Countries).
    • December  : Announcement of the postponement of national elections in 2008.
  • 2007
    • July  : Progress of the electoral census (4 million registered voters).
    • The country's economic boom (production of 1.5 million barrels per day at the start of 2007) but the population remains in a very fragile situation.
    • The Angolan government proscribes Mpalabanda (the only human rights organization in the enclave) which it accuses of interfering in political life by refusing to recognize the memorandum of understanding signed on August 1, 2006
    • November  : Following the Namibe accords, the Angolan government and Beto Bembe supporters are trying to integrate "by force" combatants causing incidents at the borders with the DRC and Congo.
  • 2008  : September: The legislative elections are largely won by the MPLA, the party in power, against UNITA, with 81.64% of the vote. European Union observers denounce irregularities in the ballot (mainly in the province of Cabinda) without, however, declaring it void.
    • Fernando Lelo, Voice of America correspondent in Cabinda, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for endangering state security. He had criticized the Namibe agreement.
    • October  : Beginning of the Angolagate trial (arms trafficking case between France and Angola involving several French politicians).
  • 2009  : Following the large victory of the MPLA in the legislative elections, the presidential elections are postponed.
    • February  : The United States and Angola sign a framework agreement for cooperation in the investment and trade sectors.
    • April  : The DRC wishes to rely on the United Nations convention on the rights of the sea to confirm in particular its maritime borders with Angola, the subject of disputes between the two countries, in particular on the exploitation of hydrocarbons.
  • 2010
    • June 21  : Adoption of a new Constitution modifying the mode of appointment of the president. The head of the list of the winning party in the legislative elections is elected president. January  : The Togo national football team is ambushed as it travels through the Cabindese enclave to participate in the African Cup of Nations; the incident left three dead. The FLEC claims responsibility for the attack.

Arrests and intimidation, the government in the face of emerging civil society unrest[edit | edit source]

  • 2011
    • February  : An anonymous character, presenting himself under the pseudonym of Agostinho Jonas Roberto Dos Santos, calls for a demonstration on March 7 against the “dictatorship” of the Dos Santos regime. The manifesto, which circulates on the Internet, encourages "a new revolution of the Angolan people", with the slogan "Angola says basta at 32 years of tyranny and bad governance".
    • March 5  : After warning that any participation in such a demonstration will be condemned, the MPLA organizes a "March for Peace", bringing together between 1 and 3 million people in Luanda.
    • March 7  : Following the government's intimidation campaign, the planned demonstration will only bring together a few people. Seventeen young people who answered the call were arrested, as well as 3 journalists from Novo Jornal who came to cover the event.
    • April 2  : Several hundred people demonstrate on Independence Square in Luanda. If no incident is to be declared, several demonstrators say they have received anonymous death threats.
    • May 2  : A demonstration is dispersed, several demonstrators are arrested.
    • September 3  : A new demonstration is violently dispersed by the police force, but also by unidentified groups of civilians. Several protesters and journalists are injured. Arrests of demonstrators lead to prison terms of 45 to 30 days, without these people having had access to a lawyer or their families.
    • September 8  : A demonstration in support of the prisoners is organized. 17 young people are again arrested and then released.
  • 2012:
    • March 10  : 3 demonstrators are seriously injured by the police forces. A rally was organized to protest against the non-payment of pensions for the Presidential Guard Unit (PMU) and veterans. An organizer, a human rights defender and a passer-by were arrested and sentenced to 45 days in prison for insubordination and assault on police forces.
    • May 27 and 29  : Isaias Cassule and Antonio Alves Kamulingue, organizers of gatherings of former PMU and veterans, are in turn missing after the rally on May 27. No investigation is open.
    • July 14th : Two anti- and pro-Dos Santos rallies are organized in Luanda. 11 anti-Dos Santos demonstrators and two journalists are arrested, as the second rally goes off without a hitch. Witnesses speak of ill-treatment by the police.
    • August  : The legislative elections see the MPLA once again leading with 71.84%, allowing President Dos Santos to retain his post. This apparent large victory can however be put into perspective by a low participation (63% participation, against 87% in 2008).
  • 2013
    • May 31  : Demonstration denouncing the disappearance of Isaias Cassule and Antonio Alves Kamulingue is again suppressed.
    • August  : Rafael Marques, a journalist defending freedom of expression, is still being prosecuted for defamation.
    • November 22  : HRW reports a document proving the involvement of police forces in the disappearance and murder of Isaias Cassule and Antonio Alves Kamulingue.
    • November 26  : After a day of protest, Manuel de Carvalho, known for his activities denouncing the government, is killed by police forces while displaying leaflets against Dos Santos.

Source[edit | edit source]

https://www.ritimo.org/Chronologie-et-histoire-recente-de-l-Angola

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Portuguese Returnees from Angola ( 1975 ) - YouTube[edit | edit source]

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