Angola: Human development opportunities and threats: a programme of action

(Johannesburg: Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, 2003)

Situational analysis

The European Union (EU) Foreign Ministers—the Council—on October 13, 2003 adopted a number of important and wide-ranging resolutions on Angola. The Council welcomed “the substantial political changes that have occurred in Angola in 2002”, and indicated the EU's intention to maintain supportive relations with Angola as provided for in the framework of the EC/ Angola strategy for 2002—2007, signed with the Government of Angola on 28th January 2003.

Among other issues, the EU encouraged the Government of Angola and all the political forces in the country “to hold free and fair elections as soon as possible once conditions are met, to accelerate the constitutional reform process, to fully respect the rule of law and justice throughout the Angolan territory, to promote and protect human rights and to foster the role of civil society in contributing to national reconciliation and democracy-building in the country.”

In the last two years alone, comparable resolutions, agreements, and conclusions have been articulated by almost all the principle donors at bilateral or multilateral levels. There is significant international interest to ensure that, this time round, Angola has a real chance on its journey towards reconstruction and development. How did Angola find itself in this situation, and what programme of action is needed to ensure that there is no relapse into another cycle of social strain?

Two generations of Angolans have grown up not knowing the meaning of the word “peace”. Four decades of continuous war began with the first battles against colonial forces in the early 1960s, and continued through the transition to independence in 1975, followed by the civil war that has dominated the history of independent Angola.

Chapter one of this book provides comprehensive information about the history of Angola, the social, political and economic contexts, and the challenges it faces. The remaining chapters discuss the country in relation to each of the OSISA programme areas.

 To order a copy of the book, e-mail publications@osisa.org or contact us.

Footnote
[1] Tjoneland, EN. 2001. Supporting Democracy in Africa: What are Aid Donors Doing? Global Dialogue 6. Pg. 4.