Angola Independence Day

THE Portuguese arrived in Angola in the late 15th century. For four centuries (except during a period of Dutch occupation from 1641 to 1848), Angola was under the rule of Portugal. The Portuguese Colonial War or the War of Liberation (in the former Portuguese colonies) began in 1961, with the following playing key roles: the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

In 1974, a military coup known as the Carnation Revolution took place in Portugal. The new government recognized the independence of its colonies. On November 11, 1975, the MPLA took control of the capital city of Luanda and declared the independence of Angola. Angola yesterday celebrated its Independence Day on the 42nd anniversary of this day.

Angola is in Southern Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north and east, Zambia on the east, and Botswana and Namibia on the south. The country’s capital, and largest and most populous city is Luanda. It is Angola’s primary port and the hub of major industrial, cultural, and urban activities.

Portuguese influence in the country is evident in its cuisine, the Angolan Portuguese language, and some of its landmarks, which include Fortaleza de São Miguel, a fortress built by the Portuguese in 1576 to defend Luanda.

The Republic of Angola and the Philippines enjoy warm and friendly relations. Angola maintains a consulate office in Manila, while the Philippines has a consulate general office in Luanda.

We greet the people and government of the Republic of Angola, led by President José Eduardo dos Santos, on the occasion of its Independence Day.