Cabinda

The Cabinda is a territory which " administrativement" depends; Angola, but of which it is separated by a coastal strip from approximately 60 km of the territory of the Democratic republic of Congo. It is located on the Atlantic coast of the Africa, between the Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic republic of Congo. The capital, Cabinda or Tchiowa by its true name, are located on the coast at the south-west of the territory, on Right Bank of the river Bele (Lulondo).

Historically, it is resulting from the old empire Kongo dia Ntotila, before the arrival of the European colonizers. Become Portuguese protectorate following the signature of the Treated of Simulambuco signed on February 1st, 1885, legal document presented by Portugal to the Conference of Berlin to certify its claims on this territory. The Portugal was the colonizing power of the Angola and Cabinda. Cabinda passed under control of Angola in 1975 at the time of independence where this last annexed it “manu militari”. A government in exile of the FLEC asserts the independence of Cabinda. The situation of the inhabitants is precarious. The fight for independence causes a politically tended situation, with violations of the human rights to maintain supremacy Angolan.

Independence

April 24th 1974, with the Portugal, it is the beginning of the Révolution of the eyelets which reverses the preserving mode " salazariste " of Marcelo Caetano. June 30th, 1974 of the members of the FLEC, which wishes the total independence of the Cabinda, return of a 7 years exile of Zaire, and open a representation at Cabinda-city. A group of French mercenaries frames the FLEC of the commander Bissafi, for the " libération" and the " indépendance" Cabinda. They face the Angolan forces of MPLA, which are opposed to Portuguese. They will make a success of their mission, and, on August 10th, 1974 the Congolese government sends to Cabinda a troop ordered by Jose Auguste Tchioufou, director-assistant of Elf - Congo, person in charge of the “FLEC Rouge”, installed with Point-Black, which car proclaims President of Cabinda. September 19th, with the complicity of the Portuguese Communists, the Cabinda is annexed by the MPLA, which will drive out on November 2nd the FLEC and the mercenaries. The mercenaries flee the Angolan troops to take refuge with the Congo and, made captive, are extradited towards France

With the favor of the civil war which bursts a few months later between the various Angolan liberation movements, the FLEC proclaims nevertheless on August 1st, 1975 the independence of Cabinda. In the facts, the enclave indeed is incorporated in the new Popular republic of Angola, proclaimed on November 11th, 1975 with Luanda by Agostinho Neto, the leader of the MPLA. However, in spite of the annexation and the occupation of the enclave by 50.000 Angolan soldiers, resistance cabindaise, gathered around the FLEC, seems to preserve a certain activity and continuous to claim the total independence of Cabinda. Following a meeting of the Cabindais freedom fighters held of the 30 at August 1st, 2007, initials FLEC become Front of Release of the State of Cabinda instead of the Enclave like formerly.

Some data

Surface: 7.270 km ², 200 km of full of fish coasts. Maximum width: 113 km.
Population: estimates between 450.000 and 600.000 inhabitants interior and diasporas included/understood. 60.000 cabindais are taken refuge in Congo and in DRC.
Ethnos groups: Bakongos, groups: Yombé, Vili, Woyo, Koti, Lindji, of the mongrels and the Portuguese White (very minority).
Languages: Portuguese; possibly French taking into account the two frontier French-speaking countries of Cabinda; Ibinda language, Kituba.
Resources: oil, diamonds, phosphates, manganese. Coffee, cocoa. Production of almonds and declining wood.
Climate: equatorial. The temperature oscillates between 25°C and 30°C all the year. Abundant rains from October at May.
Cabinda has an airport (code AITA: CAB).

Évêché

Diocese of Cabinda
Cathedral of Cabinda

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