NCJ Number
177585
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the status of the civil war in Angola, outlines various scenarios, and suggests a general approach for improving that nation's life.
Abstract
Angola has been wracked by 30 years of largely futile conflict that has reduced the country to shambles. Not only has the Angolan infrastructure been destroyed, but hundreds of thousands of Angolans have been killed, millions displaced, and tens of thousands maimed by the landmines placed by all the parties to the war. Most Angolans continue to suffer acute shortages of food and basic necessities. Angola's oil and diamond wealth has been largely wasted in financing the military effort of the antagonists or in satisfying the appetites of their leaders. This paper reviews the history of the war and identifies its causes. The current peace process is supervised by the UN and a troika of powers responsible for monitoring and fostering the peace process. This effort has been inconsistent, in that suppliers from the United States, Russia, and Portugal have supplied arms and equipment to the Angolan government. The paper profiles UNITA, the group challenging the Angolan government, followed by an assessment of prospects for armed conflict in Angola. Two possible scenarios for the future are presented. The paper concludes that, even if peace were to hold, Angola would be slow in building an infrastructure sufficient to meet the basic needs of its population. Without some form of economic recovery in the countryside, the incentive to seek peace is relatively slight; yet, without a commitment to peace, there can be no recovery.