Angola has been the scene of war for more than 40 years, beginning with its war for independence from Portugal which ended in 1975.

Soon after independence, civil war broke out between the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

The Cold War played a large part in Angola's civil war. The Soviet Union and Cuba supported the then-Marxist MPLA, while the United States and South Africa backed UNITA. But when the Cold War ended Angola's conflict continued. UNITA rebels funded themselves through diamonds, while the Luanda-based government relied heavily on oil sales.

In 1991 the two sides signed a peace deal. Elections were held in 1992 but UNITA rejected the results and resumed the war. Another peace deal was signed in 1994, but fighting broke out again in 1998 despite the presence of U.N. peacekeepers from 1995-99.

The war finally ended in 2002 when UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi was killed by government troops. The Angolan army and UNITA rebels signed a peace deal in April that year. Many former UNITA soldiers have since been integrated into the national army.

Conflict has continued, however, in the oil-rich enclave of Cabinda involving the separatist rebel group FLEC-FAC and government troops.

José Eduardo dos Santos has been president of Angola since 1979. The next general elections are due to take place in 2006.