Angola Independence Day

Today, the people and government of Angola celebrate its National Day commemorating its sovereignty from Portugal on November 11, 1975.

The country was occupied by the Portuguese in the late 15th century. They founded Luanda (now the capital of Angola) in 1575. The country was Portuguese colony for 400 years, except it was occupied by the Dutch from 1641 to 1848.

In 1961, the armed struggle (Angolan War of Independence/ Portuguese Colonial War) for the independence of Angola started. The struggle was fought by three movements – 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 agreed to recognize the independence of its colonies, including Angola. On November 11, 1975, the MPLA took control of the capital city of Luanda and declared the independence of Angola.

Angola is located in Southern Africa. It shares land borders to the far northwest with the Republic of the Congo, to the north and northeast with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the southeast with Zambia, to the south with Namibia. To the west is the Atlantic Ocean. The country’s capital is Luanda. It is Angola’s primary port and the hub of major industrial, cultural and urban activities.

Angola’s Independence

Day is a public holiday widely celebrated throughout the country. It is marked with formal speeches by key figures in governmen, parades, concerts, and other festive events and activities.

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 João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, GColI, on the occasion of its Independence Day.