page_title: Benguela
section_title: Post-independence
hierarchical_section_title: Benguela / History / Post-independence
caption_attribution_description: English: City Hall, Benguela, Angola Português: Paços do Concelho, Benguela, Angola
context_page_description: Benguela is a city in western Angola, capital of Benguela Province. Benguela is one of Angola's most populous cities with a population of 555,124 in the city and 561,775 in the municipality, at the 2014 census.
context_section_description: In 1975, after the April 1974 Carnation Revolution in Lisbon, Portugal, the Portuguese Overseas Province of Angola became independent. 
  Due to the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002), which lasted more than 20 years after independence from Portugal, the important Benguela railway line closed, with only the short distance of 30 kilometres (19 mi) between Benguela and Lobito remaining operational. 
  In 1983 Benguela had a population of 155,000. During the civil war the city of Benguela increased its population due to refugees from the countryside.
caption: Benguela City Hall.
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