Angola is a country located in the southwestern part of Africa, a nation state that started with Portugese colonization. They gained independence in 1975, but civil war between the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the insurgent anti-communist National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) threw the country into chaos until 2002. However, since then, Angola has been a relatively stable country, governed as a presidential constitutional republic.
One of the fastest growing economies in the world, Angola has enormous mineral and petroleum reserves. However, most of its population remains poor, with low life expectancy rates compared to other countries. Although Portugese is their official language, the most common indigenous languages are Umbundu, Kimbundu and Kikongo and the majority of the population considers themselves Christian.
Angola’s capital city is Luanda and basketball is its most popular sport.