Angola celebrates 36 years of independence

Angola Friday marked its 36th independence anniversary with the US promising continued support to the country.

Presiding over the celebrations at Kwanza Norte Province, the minister for Territory Administration, Mr Bornito de Sousa, said the proclamation of independence on November 11, 1975 constituted an indelible landmark in the history of the Angolan people.

Mr de Sousa, who represented President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, added that the country had made tremendous achievements in various sectors.

"Today, with the opening of the roads and railways, the development of the north and east will be more visible,” he added.

The southern Africa’s nation independence from Portugal was followed by a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002.

However, Angola has made notable gains leading to economic growth, courtesy of the oil wells.

It is today one of the world's top oil producers.

Reconstruction

The country held the first General Election in 16 years in 2008 and that was overwhelmingly won by MPLA, which picked up more than 80 per cent of the vote.

In January 2010, the MPLA-dominated Parliament changed the Constitution to allow President dos Santos to run for two more terms.

Tension has been rising in Angola ahead of elections due next year, with opposition groups calling for dos Santos to step down.

Dos Santos' reign is second only to Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulated Angolan people, adding that the country was on the right economic growth path.

“During my trip to Angola two years ago, I personally could witness the country reconstruction and its economic growth after a 27-year civil war,” her statement read in part.

According to the statement, US will keep cooperating with Angola since the southern Africa state was working towards reinforcing its democratic structures.