Cabinda is a small territory, administered as an exclave of Angola, resulting from the fusion of three kingdoms: N'Goyo, Loango and Kacongo. With 7,283 km², it has a population of 300,000 inhabitants, of which about one third are refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo, formerly Zaïre). It is separated from Angola by DR Congo, which bounds the province on the south and the east. Cabinda is bounded on the north by the Republic of the Congo, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Adjacent to the coast are some of the biggest oilfields of the world; the exploration began in 1954.

Industry

Cabinda produces hardwoods, coffee, cacao, rubber, and palm oil products. Petroleum production began in 1968 and now accounts for most of Angola's production. Currently Cabinda produces 700,000 barrels of crude per day. Cabinda Oil is associated with Sonangol, Agip Angola Lda. The Sonangol has (41%), Chevron (39.2%) Elf (10%) and Agip (9.8%).

History

Portuguese explorers, missionaries and traders arrived at the mouth of the Congo (or Nzere) river in the mid-15th century, making contact with the powerful King of the Congo (Manikongo). The Manikongo controlled much of the region through affiliation with smaller kingdoms, such as the Kingdoms of Ngoyo, Loango and Cacongo in present-day Cabinda.

Over the years, the Portuguese, Dutch, and English established trading posts, logging camps and small palm oil processing factories in Cabinda. Trade continued and the European presence grew, resulting in conflicts between the rival colonial powers.

Through the Treaty of Simulambuco in 1885 between the kings of Portugal and Cabinda's princes, a Portuguese protectorate was decreed, reserving rights to the local princes and independent of Angola. Cabinda once had the Congo River as the only natural boundary with Angola, but in 1885, the Conference of Berlin extended the Congo Free State's territory along the Congo River to the river's mouth at the sea.

In 1975, the Treaty of Alvor integrated Cabinda into Angola, but this treaty was considered contentious and was rejected by all Cabinda parties.

Liberation movement

A liberation movement, the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Frente para a Libertação do Enclave de Cabinda, FLEC), has been active since Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975.

FLEC controlled most of the region in 1975, and constituted a provisional government led by Henriques Tiago. The independence of Cabinda from Portugal was proclaimed on August 1, 1975. Luiz Branque Franque was elected president. After the declaration of Angolan independence in November 1975, Cabinda was invaded by forces of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola, MPLA), with support troops from Cuba. The MPLA overthrew the provisional FLEC government, and re-incorporated Cabinda into Angola. FLEC has continued its political and military struggle for Cabindan independence since the invasion, with little success.

In April 1997, Cabinda joined the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, a democratic and international organization whose members are indigenous peoples, occupied nations, minorities and independent states or territories.

An ad-hoc commission of United Nations for human rights in Cabinda reported in 2003 that many atrocities had been perpetrated by the MPLA. In 2004, according to Peter Takirambudde, executive director of the Human Rights Watch mission for Africa, the Angolan army continued to commit crimes against civilians in Cabinda.