Angola has embarked on a major reconstruction program following the end of a 27-year vicious civil war in 2002. The oil-rich country holds general elections Friday.
Angola's construction boom —
Angola has embarked on a major reconstruction program following the end of a 27-year vicious civil war in 2002. The oil-rich country holds general elections Friday.
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Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, 70, has been in power since 1979. Analysts expect his party, MPLA, to win Friday's elections.
President Jose Eduardo dos Santos —
Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, 70, has been in power since 1979. Analysts expect his party, MPLA, to win Friday's elections.
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MPLA supporters attend Wednesday the final rally of President dos Santos in Kilamba Kaixi on the outskirts of Luanda, Angola's capital.
Support for MPLA —
MPLA supporters attend Wednesday the final rally of President dos Santos in Kilamba Kaixi on the outskirts of Luanda, Angola's capital.
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Thousands of Angolans take part in a demonstration in Luanda organized by the main opposition party, UNITA, to ask for free and fair elections on May 19, 2012.
UNITA demonstration —
Thousands of Angolans take part in a demonstration in Luanda organized by the main opposition party, UNITA, to ask for free and fair elections on May 19, 2012.
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UNITA leader Isaias Samakuva (center), delivers a speech during the May 19 demonstration. The opposition has repeatedly expressed concerns about the electoral process.
Opposition leader Isaias Samakuva —
UNITA leader Isaias Samakuva (center), delivers a speech during the May 19 demonstration. The opposition has repeatedly expressed concerns about the electoral process.
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Dos Santos casts his ballot on September 05, 2008, at the polling station behind the presidential palace in Luanda. MPLA won the last elections with a landslide 82% of the vote.
2008 elections —
Dos Santos casts his ballot on September 05, 2008, at the polling station behind the presidential palace in Luanda. MPLA won the last elections with a landslide 82% of the vote.
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Resource-rich Angola is the second-biggest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, turning out more than 1.9 million barrels per day.
Oil boom —
Resource-rich Angola is the second-biggest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, turning out more than 1.9 million barrels per day.
MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images/file
Thanks to its oil reserves, the country has posted impressive economic growth after the end of the war. It is currently the third-biggest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, after South Africa and Nigeria.
Oil boom —
Thanks to its oil reserves, the country has posted impressive economic growth after the end of the war. It is currently the third-biggest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, after South Africa and Nigeria.
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But despite the progress made since 2002, Angola remains one of the most unequal societies in the world. In Luanda, millions of people live in crowded shantytowns, like the Boa Vista slum (pictured), in squalid conditions.
Rich-poor divide —
But despite the progress made since 2002, Angola remains one of the most unequal societies in the world. In Luanda, millions of people live in crowded shantytowns, like the Boa Vista slum (pictured), in squalid conditions.
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Angola, which has a population of some 18 million people, ranks 148th out of 187 countries in the U.N.'s Human Development Index.
Rich-poor divide —
Angola, which has a population of some 18 million people, ranks 148th out of 187 countries in the U.N.'s Human Development Index.
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A large portrait of the Angolan President is seen in the center of Luanda on January 30, 2010. The Angolan capital was last year named the world's most expensive city for expats.
Living in Luanda —
A large portrait of the Angolan President is seen in the center of Luanda on January 30, 2010. The Angolan capital was last year named the world's most expensive city for expats.
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Earlier this year, Angola celebrated 10 years of the end of its civil war. Here, Luanda residents walk in front of a giant portrait of President dos Santos, with text reading "The Architect of Peace" on April 4, 2012.
"The Architect of Peace" —
Earlier this year, Angola celebrated 10 years of the end of its civil war. Here, Luanda residents walk in front of a giant portrait of President dos Santos, with text reading "The Architect of Peace" on April 4, 2012.
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Angola was gripped by a brutal civil war for 27 years that led to the death of up to half a million people, according to the U.N., and also left 15.000 landmines behind.
Vicious conflict —
Angola was gripped by a brutal civil war for 27 years that led to the death of up to half a million people, according to the U.N., and also left 15.000 landmines behind.
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After Portugal's decision to cede power in the African country in the mid-1970s, pro-U.S. UNITA and MPLA, backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba, fought a proxy Cold War for control of the country and its vast resources.
Vicious conflict —
After Portugal's decision to cede power in the African country in the mid-1970s, pro-U.S. UNITA and MPLA, backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba, fought a proxy Cold War for control of the country and its vast resources.
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The war ended officially in 2002 when a peace deal was signed following the death of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi.
Vicious conflict —
The war ended officially in 2002 when a peace deal was signed following the death of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi.
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