[ang-goh-luh] 
| a republic in SW Africa: formerly an overseas province of Portugal; gained independence Nov. 11, 1975. 10,623,994; 481,226 sq. mi. (1,246,375 sq. km). Capital: Luanda. |
An·go·la (āng-gō'lə, ān-)  (click for larger image in new window) A country of southwest Africa bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. Previously settled by Bantu-speaking people, the region was colonized by the Portuguese beginning in the 16th century and became an overseas province in 1951. The country achieved independence in 1975, but factional fighting broke out, which elections in 1992 failed to end. Luanda is the capital and the largest city. Population: 12,300,000. An·go'lan adj. & n. |
Republic in southwestern Africa on the Atlantic, bordered to the north and northeast by Democratic Republic of Congo, to the east by Zambia, and to the south by Namibia. Its capital and largest city is Luanda.
Note: After achieving independence from Portugal in 1976, Angola was the scene of a civil war between its Marxist government, supported by the Soviet Union and Cuban troops, and a rebel organization known as UNITA, which was aided by the United States and South Africa. In 1988, the United States engineered a settlement that led to the withdrawal of Cuban troops and to South African acceptance of black majority rule in neighboring Namibia.
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