<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Angola<nl>Government</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Note:</hi> Civil war has been the norm since independence on 11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections; fighting has since resumed throughout much of the countryside. Nevertheless, the two sides are negotiating the details for holding the second round of presidential elections.
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Republic of Angola
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Angola
<item>• <hi format=ital>local long form:</hi> Republica de Angola
<item>• <hi format=ital>local short form:</hi> Angola
<item>• <hi format=ital>former:</hi> People's Republic of Angola
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<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> AO
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> transitional government nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since 2 December 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
<item><hi format=bold>National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional):</hi> first nationwide, multiparty elections were held 29-30 September 1992 with disputed results; further elections are being discussed
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao)
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, remains a legal party despite its return to armed resistance to the government; five minor parties have small numbers of seats in the National Assembly
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Cabindan State Liberation Front (FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of largest faction (FLEC-FAC)
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)