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Angola GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government: Marxist-Leninist government based on
1975
Constitution (later revised) but dominated by Popular
Movement for
the Liberation of Angola-Workers' Party (Movimento Popular
de
Libertação de Angola-Partido de Trabalho--MPLA-PT).
Government
composed of executive branch led by president, who
appointed
Council of Ministers and Defense and Security Council.
Legislative
branch consisted of People's Assembly. As of late 1988,
because of
inability to hold elections, People's Assembly had been
appointed.
Justice system composed of Supreme Court, Court of
Appeals,
people's revolutionary courts, and series of people's
courts.
Politics: Real power resided with MPLA-PT, whose
chairman
was president of republic. Political Bureau most important
body in
party. Central Committee, although subordinate to MPLA-PT
party
congress, wielded greater influence over party policies.
No legal
opposition parties, but beginning in 1976 National Union
for the
Total Independence of Angola (União Nacional para a
Independência
Total de Angola -- UNITA) waged devastating insurgency
from bases
in southeast and elsewhere.
Foreign Relations: Government relied on Soviet
Union and
its allies, especially Cuba, for military support. United
States
and other Western nations played important economic roles.
South
Africa, which has supported UNITA, most important regional
threat.
December 1988 regional accords with South Africa and
Cuba--which
provided for cessation of South African support for UNITA,
withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola, and independence
for
Namibia--may change complexion of regional politics and
foreign
relations.
International Organizations: Member of African
Development Bank, Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
(observer
status), Customs Cooperation Council, Group of 77,
International
Telecommunications Satellite Organization, Nonaligned
Movement,
Organization of African Unity, Southern African
Development
Coordination Conference, United Nations and its agencies,
and World
Federation of Trade Unions.
Data as of February 1989
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