Angola–Cuba relations that Angola's large oil reserves would serve well to make it a rich and strong backer of a Marxist expansion, Cuba focused on primarily supporting Angolan Marxist rebel movements over the liberation movements of other Portuguese colonies, thus beginning the special relationship between Cuba and Angola. Portugal set Angola's independence date for 11 November 1975. Three prominent liberation movements contended for the role of leading the newly formed independent country, namely: UNITA, FNLA and the MPLA. Each of the three movements received foreign assistance, UNITA from western countries, FNLA from China (and later from the West) and MPLA from the
Angola Press News Agency Angola Press News Agency The Angola Press News Agency or Angola Press Agency (ANGOP; ) is the official news agency of Angola, based in Luanda. Founded in 1975, it was a former close ally of the now-defunct Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union. It is part of the . ANGOP was founded in April 1975 under the name "Agência Nacional Angola Press" (ANAP) and later renamed "Agência Angola Press" when Angola gained independence, by order dated October 30, 1975, promulgated by then president Agostinho Neto and enjoyed autonomy and editorial independence under Presidential Decree No. 9/75 of 15 September 1975.