People's Republic of Angola

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People's Republic of Angola
República Popular de Angola

Flag Coat of arms
Capital Luanda
Languages Portuguese
Government Single-party communist state
President Agostinho Neto
Prime Minister Lopo do Nascimento
Historical era Cold War
 -  Established 1975
 -  Disestablished 1992
Currency Kwanza

The People's Republic of Angola was a self-declared socialist state (commonly known as a "communist state" in the West) that was established in 1975 after it was granted independence from Portugal, akin to the situation in Mozambique. The newly founded nation enjoyed friendly relations with the Soviet Union, Cuba, and the People's Republic of Mozambique.[1] The country was governed by the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which was responsible for its adoption of communism. The group was backed by both Cuba and the Soviet Union. An opposing group, known as the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, sparked a civil war with the MPLA, with the backing from both South Africa and the United States.

In 1991, the MPLA and UNITA signed a peace agreement, which would allow for multiparty elections in Angola. Though harsh disputes still followed, the People's Republic of Angola was finally dismantled in 1992, becoming the present day Republic of Angola.