The combined effects of two decades of civil war and weak economic management have led Angola into a massive economic, institutional and social crisis of declining incomes, macroeconomic instability, weakening institutions, crumbling infrastructure and communications, refugees, and displaced, maimed and orphan children.
Poverty is deep, widespread, and worsening.
The peace process that resulted from the signature of the November 1994 Lusaka Peace Accords has been progressing under the auspices of the United Nations, supported by some 6,500 blue helmets and 1,100 civilians. Implementation of the peace accords is several months behind schedule. Angola has a great, but so far unrealized, productive potential. It has fertile agricultural land, a diversified climate for agriculture, fisheries, and forests, and substantial hydroelectric capacity and mineral resources, including oil and diamonds, and the potential for becoming one of the richest countries in the region. Before independence in 1975 infrastructure was well developed by regional standards, but has since deteriorated substantially because of lack of maintenance and damage from the war.