Squandered Opportunities

Angola has been ravaged by war from the colonial period through much of its independence. Three fragmented groups, the MPLA, FNLA, and UNITA all fought to free its people and enjoy the spoils of power. After independence was won from Portugal in 1975, the MPLA took over the government. UNITA, backed by South Africa and, eventually, the U.S., violently challenged the rule of the MPLA, who was aided by the Soviet Union and Cuba.

After an extensive peace process resulted in the cessation of war in 1991, a national election was held. The incumbent president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos took the first round, but didn't garner the necessary 50% to avoid a runoff with UNITA's Jonas Savimbi. However, Savimbi cried foul and the war reignited. At that point, international opinion overwhelmingly turned against UNITA. The Lusaka Peace Process commenced in 1994, but had completely fallen apart by 1998. Savimbi was killed in 2002 and UNITA was overrun militarily. The war finally ended.

By agreement, the government was supposed to have held elections already. The brass of the MPLA has used war and its aftermath as excuses to avoid holding elections. Not only have the rights of Angolans been trampled on by both sides in the name of war, but the war has been used as a cover for dos Santos and his cohorts to exploit the country's vast oil wealth, while Savimbi and UNITA leaders took advantage of the nation's diamonds. The result has created a few wealthy and powerful individuals at the expense of the rest of the population. While Angola's GDP is one of the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, almost none of that money finds its way towards improving the condition of the majority of Angolans. (International Edition)