Last modified: 2022-10-22 by bruce berry
Keywords: cabinda | flec | kongo | enclave | portuguese congo |
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Portugal first claimed sovereignty over Cabinda in February 1885 through the
Treaty of Simbulambuco which gave Cabinda the status of a Portuguese protectorate.
Following the confirmation of the borders of Angola in the mid-1920s, Cabinda
was treated as part of Portuguese West Africa (Angola). In 1974-75, when Portugal
gave independence to its African colonies, it was done in a colony by colony
basis. According to the Treaty of Alvor between Portugal and the liberation
movements in Angola, Cabinda was re-confirmed as being an integral part of
Angola. There where never
plans for a separate independence process for the enclave although the Treaty
was rejected by the Front for the Liberation of the
Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) and other local political movements which
advocated independence for the territory.
Jorge Candeias, 04 March 1999
The Fischer Weltalmanach (1976) has a virtual independent Cabinda;
Cabinda became important in the 1960's when the Golf Oil Co. discovered
oil. The independence movements of Angola saw Cabinda always as an integral
part of Angola, while Zaire and
Congo (Brazzaville) assisted separatist
movements; FLEC had its main seat in Kinshasa till 1975. In July 1975
a provisional revolutionary government (president: Luis Ranque Franque,
president of FLEC, prime minister: Francisco Xavier Lubota) was proclaimed,
which wanted elections, and independence on 11 Nov 1975, together with
Angola.
The Fischer Weltalmanach (1978) mentions a new FLEC-provisional
government under Henrique Thiago in Sanda-Massala.
After that it stayed Angolan, as far as I know.
Jarig Bakker, 04 March 1999
[Cabinda is now a province of Angola, the symbols of which can be seen here.]