Angola–France relations

France-Angola relations

France	Angola

Relations between France and Angola have not always been cordial, due to the former French government's policy of supporting militant separatists in Angola's Cabinda Province. The international Angolagate scandal embarrassed both governments, by exposing corruption and illicit arms deals.^[1] Following French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit in 2008, relations have improved.^{[citation needed]}

History

Agostinho Neto, the leader of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), declared the independence of the People's Republic of Angola on November 11, 1975, in accordance with the Alvor Accords.^[2] National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) also declared Angolan independence as the Social Democratic Republic of Angola based in Huambo and the Democratic Republic of Angola based in Ambriz. The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), armed and backed by the French government, declared the independence of the Republic of Cabinda in Paris.^[3]

Diplomatic missions

Embassy of Angola in Paris

Francis Blondet was the ambassador of France to Angola.^[4] The current French ambassador is Sylvain Itté. Angola maintains an embassy in Paris and France maintains an embassy in Luanda.^[5]

State visits

President José Eduardo dos Santos traveled to France, Italy, and Spain, meeting with politicians and business leaders in September 1984.^[6]

In 1998, President Jacques Chirac visited Angola.^[7]

French President Sarkozy visited Angola in May 2008.^[1][8] During this visit, Sarkozy said his aim in meeting his Angolan counterpart, President dos Santos, was "to turn the page from the misunderstandings of the past and build a future based on trust and mutual respect".^[7]

During this visit, Sarkozy announced greatly increased French assistance to Angola:^[9]

France wishes to play a full part in the rebuilding of Angola in every sphere, in infrastructure as well as in human resources. As regards infrastructure, we have already decided to resume the activities of the French Development Agency (AFD) which will fund major projects in the fields of energy, water, sanitation, and also in vocational training. An AFD agency will reopen in Luanda before the end of 2008.

Agreements

During Sarkozy's 2008 visit, four cooperation and development accords were signed in the areas of health, sanitation, higher education and French language instruction.^[7]

Trade and investment

In 2008, French defence and security company Thales won a contract worth approximately 140 million EUR to supply a secure telecommunications network for the Angolan government.^[10] Also in 2008, French bank Société Générale opened US$300 million of credit lines to finance trade between the two countries.^[11]

In 2007, France imported €541 million worth of goods to Angola which meant that France was Angola's 6th highest importer.^[12]

In 2016, trade between France and Angola was worth US$1.31 billion. French exports to Angola amounted to US$284.2 million and Angolan exports to France amounted to US$1.03 billion ^[13]

Education

Lycée Français de Luanda is a French international school in Luanda.

Migration

French Angolans

French people in Angola
Franco-Angolais
Franco-angolanos

Regions with significant populations
Luanda
Languages
Predominantly Portuguese. Elderly people also speak French.

French Angolans are Angolans with French ancestry or French people who resided and/or live in Angola. They form one of the largest French diaspora communities in Africa, outside Françafrique.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Angolan Civil War
• Angolagate
• Arcadi Gaydamak

References

1. "Sarkozy to mend fences with Angola". Mail & Guardian. 2008-05-23. Archived from the original on 2012-05-09.
2. Rothchild, Donald S. (1997). Managing Ethnic Conflict in Africa: Pressures and Incentives for Cooperation. Brookings Institution Press. pp. 115–116.
3. Mwaura, Ndirangu (2005). Kenya Today: Breaking the Yoke of Colonialism in Africa. Algora Publishing. pp. 222–223.
4. "Angola: France, Country to Rebuild Ties After Decade". allAfrica.com. BuaNews. 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
5. "Embassy of France in Luanda, Angola". www.embassypages.com. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
6. Kalley, Jacqueline Audrey (1999). Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997. Greenwood Press. p. 26.
7. http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2008/05/23/sarkozy_in_angola_to_heal_ties/ ^{[dead link‍]}
8. "Sarkozy in Angola to mend ties". France 24. 2008-05-23. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20.
9. "Official visit to Angola – Interview given by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, to the "Jornal de Angola" newspaper (Excerpts)". www.ambafrance-uk.org. 2008-05-23. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
10. http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/depeches/economie/20080523.REU6439/thales_et_socgen_signent_en_angola_total_pousse_fort.html ^{[dead link‍]}
11. https://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2008/05/22/afx5037568.html ^{[dead link‍]}
12. "Relations financières, économiques et commerciales France-Angola - Ambassade de France en Angola". Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
13. "France Imports, Tariffs by country and region 2020 | WITS Data". wits.worldbank.org. Retrieved 31 July 2023.

External links

• Embassy of France in Angola