s been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11
November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October
1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of
Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally
monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the
countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20
November 1994; the cease-fire is generally holding, but most
provisions of the accord remain to be implemented.

Map
---

Location: 12 30 S, 18 30 E -- Southern Africa, bordering the South
Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Zaire

Flag
----

Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black
with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star
within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a
hammer and sickle)

Geography
---------

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Namibia and Zaire

Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 1,246,700 sq km
land area: 1,246,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,198 km
border countries: Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 km,
Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline: 1,600 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 20 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has
cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to
April)

Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior
plateau
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Moro de Moco 2,620 m

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates,
copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 23%
forest and woodland: 43%
other: 32%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: population pressures contributing to overuse of
pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation
of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for
tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation
contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to
water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate
supplies of potable water
natural hazards: loca