Following Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) took power, but its rule was contested by two other anticolonial movements, including the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). UNITA fought a 27-year civil war that caused great suffering and killed an estimated 1.5 million people. UNITA had support from the United States, China and apartheid South Africa. As external support waned, illegal sale of diamonds, mined in UNITA-controlled areas, helped to fund the group's military campaign.
This page looks at sanctions imposed by the Security Council from 1993 to 2002 against UNITA and its leadership. The Angola case was a very important chapter in the Council's use of sanctions. Ambassador Robert Fowler of Canada assumed the chair of the Council's Angola sanctions committee in January 1999 and took a very active role in enforcement. Under Fowler's leadership, the Council named panels of experts to uncover sanctions-breakers. Given the UN's limited enforcement powers, Fowler and the Council began a process of "naming and shaming" to end the illegal trade.
The death of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi on February 22, 2002 and the collapse of UNITA as an effective fighting force, demonstrated the effectiveness of the sanctions regime. UNITA agreed to lay down its arms and the government recognized it as a legitimate political movement. In April 2002, a Council resolution authorized a UN mission in Angola to promote political reconciliation. Finally, in December 2002, the Council lifted the sanctions.
The end of the war has ended the terrible killing and massive displacement. It has enabled further development of Angola's enormous natural resource wealth. After Nigeria, Angola is the second largest producer of oil in sub-Saharan Africa and it is the world's fourth largest producer of diamonds. But the wealth generated by these resources has not reached the population, which suffers from widespread poverty and lack of public services. Angola has continuing problems of corruption, inequality, and unrest and scheduled elections have been postponed.
Key Documents
Report of the Secretary General to the Security Council on Angola (July 26, 2002)
Aiming to consolidate peace in Angola, Kofi Annan proposes the creation of a new mission, divided into two components: one dealing with political, military and human rights work, and the other devoted to humanitarian concerns, economic recovery and development.
Addendum to the Final Report of the Monitoring Mechanism on Sanctions Against Unita (April 11, 2001)
After having visited the region, the Monitoring Mechanism for Angola reports that despite the positive effect of sanctions Unita is still very active.
Statement of Ambassador Antonio Monteiro of Portugal to the Security Council (February 22, 2001)
For those who are skeptical toward the sanctions against Angola: On behalf of the so-called Troika (Portugal, Russia and the US), Ambassador Monteiro welcomed the improvements of the Angolan government which intend to hold elections in 2002.
Security Council Statement on the Need To Improve Effectiveness of Sanctions Against UNITA (November 15, 2001)
The Security Council reaffirms its intention to closely monitor the sanctions against UNITA in to improve their effectiveness. The Council also supports the Angolan Government's intention to hold free and fair elections.
All the Presidents Men: The Devastating Story of Oil and Banking in Angola's Privatised War (March 25, 2002)
This Global Witness report provides an update on the campaign for full transparency within the oil and banking sectors. It continues the investigation, started with A Crude Awakening, into the mechanisms of wholesale state robbery in Angola.
Open Letter to the Security Council Concerning Sanctions against Unita (April 14, 2000)
In response to the final report of the Angola sanctions expert panel, a group of NGOs calls on the Security Council to implement strong measures to reinforce sanctions on diamonds, arms, etc. in Angola.
Articles
Elite at Heart of Angolagate (October 11, 2008)
French businessmen and politicians are on trial in France for an illegal multimillion-dollar sale of weapons to Angola from 1993 to 1998. This Mail & Guardian article argues that France is afraid that the "Angolagate" trial will undermine relations with Angola and diminish France's influence over the country's oil. Angola will hold oil-licensing rounds next year in which the French owned company Total will be a major competitor.
Angola: Blood Oil and Western Hypocrisy (September 5, 2008)
Countries are often selective in criticizing non-democratic regimes, especially when these countries are oil rich or partners in the 'war on terrorism'. Rich countries often criticize Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe, who governs the oil poor country with an iron fist. However, governments from industrial countries do not condemn the human rights abuses of Angola's autocratic leader Eduardo dos Santos, apparently because of the country's oil wealth. (Guardian)
Angola's Poor Have Yet to Taste Fruits of Country's Oil Riches (September 1, 2008)
This Irish Times article claims that Angola is an oil rich country that earned an estimated US$41 billion from oil exports last year. In spite of Angola's oil revenue, almost 70 percent of its citizens live on less than US$2 a day. The article also provides a timeline showing events that occurred between Angola's independence in 1975 and the elections on September 5, 2008.
Angola: UN Adopts Resolution on South Atlantic Peace, Co-Operation Zone (September 16, 2007)
The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution on the South Atlantic Peace and Co-operation Zone. The resolution aims to strengthen the relationship among South Atlantic countries, helping them establish partnerships for sustainable development. The resolution also asks for financial support from UN programs and specialized organizations to achieve the Zone goals. The decision also affirms that peace and security should be connected with the development cooperation goals. (Angola Press Agency)
Five Years On, Angola Emerges From the Ruins (April 3, 2007)
As long as revenue from the Angola's massive oil-boom fails to reach the population, the gap between rich and poor will continue to widen, and resulting tensions among the poor threaten to boil over, reports NewsfromAfrica. President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has been in power since 1979, has invited the opposition and civil society representatives to talks to establish "a consensus agenda" in order to fix development priorities for the next two decades. China, the main market for Angola's oil exports will be central to the country's development. Angola, which remains one of the poorest countries in the world, has seen its next elections delayed until 2008.
Angola: Oil-Rich but Dirt-Poor (March 20, 2007)
International Herald Tribune reports that despite being oil-rich, Angola's potential wealth is not getting through to its population, most of whom live on less than US$2 a day. Angola is caught up in an energy geo-political rivalry among Western, Russian and Chinese oil companies, with its oil exports increasing ten-fold since the mid 1970's. Despite this, Angola's development rate remains as one of the slowest in the world and suffers from terrible corruption. Post civil war elections have been repeatedly postponed and are now scheduled for 2009.
2005
Coming Home: Return and Reintegration in Angola (March 17, 2005)
Three years after the end of Angola's civil war, hundreds of thousands of refugees have returned to their homes, but lack basic services and receive little or no help from the government. Despite an increase in revenue due to a rise in oil prices, the Angolan government claims it lacks the resources to support its population. With widespread poverty and a gradual withdrawal of UN humanitarian assistance in the field, "Angolans find themselves caught in the emergency-to-development gap." (Human Rights Watch)
New Report Alleges Blood Still Stains Diamonds (March 10, 2005)
Although Angola's civil war ended in 2002 and the Security Council subsequently lifted sanctions on the country, its diamond industry still fosters violence and human rights abuses against Angolans and foreigners. A new report compiled by civil rights campaigner Rafael Marques and lawyer Rui Falcao de Campos finds "only a privileged few benefit from the region's diamond wealth." This elite secures its wealth through "murders, beatings and arbitrary detentions," leading the report's authors to call for a boycott of Angolan gems. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
2004
Angola: New Body to Monitor Diamond-Mining Sector (February 19, 2004)
During the Angolan civil war, the former rebel group Unita sold illegal diamonds on Angola's loosely controlled gem market to fund its war against the government. The Angolan government is now seeking to establish a security body to monitor the poorly regulated diamond-mining sector. (UN Integrated Regional Information Networks)
A Fragile Peace on a Bloodied Continent (January 29, 2004)
"Can the peace hold in Africa? It depends on whether African states and their supporters continue to be innovative in their search for political solutions," writes UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guehenno. Showcasing Angola, the DRC and Sudan, Guehenno makes the point that when permanent members of the Security Council get involved in a particular crisis, the Council can come up with new approaches to support homegrown peace processes. (International Herald Tribune)
Links and Resources
List of UN sanctions resolutions on Angola
The mandate of MONUA ended on 26 February 1999. The mission was under liquidation as at July 1999.
Angola Peace Monitor, produced every month by Action for Southern Africa.
Diamond News, a sub-site of World News which provides links and up to date, multi-national news coverage on issues and controversies surrounding diamonds.
A summary of events in the 25 war-torn years since Angola's independence from Portugal. (Agence France Presse)
