Angola

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FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1 July 1870.

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CURRENCY

Until 1932, Portuguese.
From 1932-54, 100 centavos = 1 angolar.
From 1954, Portuguese.
From June 1977, 100 Lweis = 1 Kwanga.

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Principal Portuguese possession in Africa was founded in 1576, but its boundaries were only gradually fixed after 1886. In 1935 was declared an integral part of Portugal, and after 11 June 1951 was treated as an overseas province. Proclaimed independent on 11 November 1975.

Angola became independent in the midst of a civil war. The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) took control early in 1976 with Soviet-Cuban assistance, but remained under pressure from the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). After a cease fire in 1988, a peace agreement was signed between the two parties in 1991 and all foreign forces were withdrawn. Elections took place in 1992 which were won by the MPLA. Howver, UNITA refused to accept the result and the civil war was resumed in 1993 when, at one point, UNITA controlled 75% of the country.

The United Nations were asked to mediate and the two parties signed a further peace agreement in 1994. A Government on National Reconstruction was formed in April 1997. But when President Mobutu of Zaire, one of UNITA's supporters, fell from power, fighting resumed in May 1997.

On 30 October 1997, the UN Security Council ordered sanctions against UNITA for failing to fulfil its obligations under the previous protocol and UNITA was obliged to return much of the territory it had gained to government control in the following months.

In March 1998 UNITA became a legitimate political party, although fighting still continued. The UN adopted a resolution in September 1998 that urged the rejection of military force by all parties and named UNITA as the primary cause of the crisis in Angola.

During all this period, the MPLA had continued to issue stamps, partly as means of obtaining hard currency. At one stage an issue appeared from UNITA for much the same purpose. The situation of the mails is unknown and it unlikely that the recent issues have served any postal purpose.

Portuguese Congo

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FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 5 August 1894.

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CURRENCY

Portuguese.

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The area now called Cabinda, north of the River Congo, was a separate administrative territory and had separate stamps from 1894 to 1920, when it was incorporated into Angola.

Like Angola, Cabinda declared its independence on 11 November 1975, but this was followed by a 20 year war . This was led by the Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave (FLEC) which signed a cease-fire with the government in September 1995. The subsequent peace agreement was confirmed in April 1996.

Postal relations with the outside world. It is presumed that Cabinda continues to use the stamps of Angola, but such usage is quite rare and sought after by collectors.

Angola & Belgian Congo
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