History and Geography of Angola
What the exam tests
Know Angola's geography: 18 provinces, capital Luanda, major rivers (Kwanza, Cunene, Cubango, Zambezi tributaries), the coastal plain and the central plateau (planalto central), climate zones (tropical, semi-arid in the south), and natural resources (oil in Cabinda and offshore, diamonds in Lunda Norte/Sul, hydroelectric potential). Historical milestones: pre-colonial kingdoms (Kongo, Ndongo, Lunda, Ovimbundu), Portuguese arrival in the 15th century, the slave trade, the armed struggle for liberation (1961), independence on 11 November 1975, the civil war (1975–2002), the Alvor Agreement (1975), the Bicesse Accords (1991), the Lusaka Protocol (1994) and the Luena Memorandum (2002).
Traps to expect
- Confusing the date of independence with the date of the proclamation of the Republic.
- Mixing up the Alvor (1975) and Bicesse (1991) agreements.
- Neighbouring countries: Namibia (south), Zambia (east), DRC (north/northeast), Republic of the Congo (north).
- Cabinda is an exclave separated by a strip of DRC territory.
Rule of thumb
Anchor dates to a chain: 1961 struggle → 1975 Alvor and independence → 1991 Bicesse → 1994 Lusaka → 2002 Luena peace.
Worked example
A question asks which agreement preceded the 1992 elections. Answer: the Bicesse Accords (1991), not Alvor (1975).