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Angola's history is not so different from that of many other African nations: beautiful
land with a wealth of natural resources; many different tribal, ethnic and linguistic
groups; hundreds of years of colonial rule; independence, then civil war; and modern-day
issues of disease, hunger and conflict.
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For 40 years, from 1961 to 2002, the people of Angola knew only fighting and survival.
After gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, various groups warred with one another
for control of the new country. The result was both predictable and devastating: roads
and general infrastructure destroyed;
1 million lives lost; 4 million refugees;
countless injured and maimed and, of course, thousands of orphans. Hostilities ceased in
2002, but the damage had already been done.
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The situation in Angola is changing. There continues to be a shortage of
adequate health care, food, and other basic necessities for living.
Landmines are still a real danger when traveling outside of cities.
However, the repairing and rebuilding of this nation is moving forward.
Angola has the fastest growing economy in all of Africa. Their natural
resources - namely oil and diamonds - are being developed at a rapid rate.
Roads and general infrastructure are being rebuilt and many nations from Europe,
Asia and North America are investing in the overall development of the country.
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Improving economics and infrastructure are encouraging signs for a nation needing
to be rebuilt, but the greatest news today is what God is doing! Though a majority of
Angolans practice indigenous religions (worshipping ancestors and spirits), and the
years of civil war were dominated by communist, atheistic ideology, God is doing a
greater work than these.
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