Capital Luanda 1975−1979 Agostinho Neto Founded 1975 Date dissolved 1992 | Languages Portuguese 1975−1978 Lopo do Nascimento Currency Angolan kwanza Historical era Cold War | |
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Government Marxist-Leninist one-party state 1979−1992 José Eduardo dos Santos | ||
The People's Republic of Angola (Portuguese: República Popular de Angola) was a self-declared socialist state 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. The country was governed by the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which was responsible for the transition into a Marxist-Leninist one party state. 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 (UNITA), 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.