Editing Cabinda Province (section)

=== Secessionism ===
{{Main|Cabinda War}}

==== Ethnic grounds for self-determination ====
The arguments for self-determination are based on Cabindans' cultural and ethnic background. Prior to the [[Treaty of Simulambuco]], three kingdoms existed in what is now referred to as Cabinda: Cacongo, Ngoyo, and Loango. The Cabindans belong to the [[Bakongo]] ethnic group whose language is [[Kikongo]]. The Bakongo also comprise the majority of the population in [[Uíge Province|Uíge]] and [[Zaire Province|Zaire]] provinces of [[Angola]]. However, despite this shared ancestry, the Cabindans developed a very different culture and distinct variants of the Kikongo language.

==== Secessionist history ====
In the early 1960s, several movements advocating a separate status for Cabinda came into being. The [[Movement for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda]] (MLEC) was formed in 1960 under the leadership of [[Luis Ranque Franque]]. Resulting from the merger of various [[emigrant|émigré]] associations in [[Brazzaville]], the MLEC rapidly became the most prominent of the separatist movements. A further group was the [[Alliama]] (Alliance of the Mayombe), representing the [[Mayombe]], a small minority of the population. In an important development, these movements united in August 1963 to form a united front. They called themselves the FLEC, and the leadership role was taken by the MLEC's Ranque Franque.

In marked contrast with the FNLA, the FLEC's efforts to mobilize international support for its [[government in exile]] met with little success. In fact, the majority of [[African Union|Organization of African Unity]] (OAU) members, concerned that this could encourage separatism elsewhere on [[Africa|the continent]],{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} committed to the sanctity of state borders and firmly rejected recognition of the FLEC's government in exile.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

In January 1975, Angola's MPLA, FNLA and UNITA liberation movements signed the [[Alvor Agreement]] with Portugal, to establish the modalities of the transition to independence. FLEC was not invited.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

On 1 August 1975, at an OAU summit in [[Kampala]] which was discussing Angola in the midst of its turbulent [[decolonization]] process, Ranque Franque proclaimed the [[Independence War in Cabinda|independence]] of the "Republic of Cabinda".{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} [[Zaire|Zairian]] President [[Mobutu Sese Seko]] called for a referendum on the future of Cabinda.

FLEC formed a [[provisional government]], led by [[Heads of state of Cabinda|Henriques Tiago]]. Luiz Branque Franque was elected president.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} Following the declaration of Angolan independence in November 1975, Cabinda was invaded by forces of the [[Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola]] (MPLA), with the support of [[Cuba]]n troops. The MPLA overthrew the provisional FLEC government and incorporated Cabinda into Angola.

For much of the 1970s and 1980s, FLEC operated a [[low intensity conflict|low intensity]] [[guerrilla war]], attacking Angolan government troops and economic targets, or creating havoc by kidnapping foreign employees working in the province's oil and construction businesses.

The National Union for the Liberation of Cabinda ({{langx|pt|União Nacional de Libertação de Cabinda}}; UNLC), a militant separatist group, emerged in the 1990s under the leadership of Lumingu Luis Gimby.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/flec.htm Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Frente para a Libertação do Enclave de Cabinda—FLEC)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618175439/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/flec.htm |date=18 June 2018 }} Global Security</ref>

In April 1997, Cabinda joined the [[Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://worldholdings.co/terrigena/files/TerrigenaEuropeDocs.pdf |title=worldholdings.co.pdf |access-date=20 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420234919/http://worldholdings.co/terrigena/files/TerrigenaEuropeDocs.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a democratic and [[international organization]] whose members are [[indigenous peoples]], [[List of disputed or occupied territories|occupied nations]], minorities and independent states or territories. In 2010, Cabinda became a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS).{{cn|date=April 2022}}

==== Recent history ====
An [[ad-hoc]] [[United Nations]] [[United Nations Commission on Human Rights|commission]] 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 [[Human rights in Angola|crimes against civilians]] in Cabinda.

Although the Angolan government says FLEC is no longer operative, this is disputed by the Republic of Cabinda and its Premier, Joel Batila.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-12 |title=Joel Batila, former secretary-general of the Cabinda independence movement, died |url=https://www.verangola.net/va/en/112020/Society/22734/Joel-Batila-former-secretary-general-of-the-Cabinda-independence-movement-died.htm |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=VerAngola |language=en}}</ref>

Earlier increases in the [[price of oil]] have made Cabinda's untapped onshore [[oil reserves]] a valuable commodity.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

===== Peace deal =====
In July 2006, after ceasefire negotiations in the Republic of Congo, [[António Bento Bembe]] – as a president of Cabindan Forum for Dialogue and Peace, and vice-president and executive secretary of FLEC – announced that the Cabindan separatist forces were ready to declare a ceasefire. Bembe is the leader of the "[[Cabindan Forum for Dialogue]]", an organization which represents most Cabindan groups{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}. The peace was recognized by the United States, France, Portugal, [[Russia]], Gabon, [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Republic of the Congo]], [[Japan]], [[South Korea]], the [[European Union]] and the African Union.

:"We're going to sign a cease-fire with the Angolans who in return have accepted the principle of granting special status to Cabinda", he announced, implying that while his group is resigned to be a part of Angola, they have gotten a promise of some form of autonomy.<ref>[http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/KKEE-6RKMY3?OpenDocument (Reuters): Cabinda separatists say ready to sign ceasefire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209051828/http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/KKEE-6RKMY3?OpenDocument |date=9 February 2009 }} Retrieved 2 November 2007.</ref>

From Paris, FLEC-FAC contended Bembe has no authority or mandate to negotiate with the Angolans, and that the only acceptable solution is total independence.<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200607140720.html Angola: Cabinda Separatists Divided Over Peace Talks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309165520/http://allafrica.com/stories/200607140720.html |date=9 March 2012 }} allafrica.com – 14 July 2006 accessed 21 December 2023.</ref>

===== Togo football team bus attack =====
{{Main|Togo national football team attack}}

On 8 January 2010, the bus carrying the [[Togo national football team]] traveling through Cabinda en route to the [[2010 Africa Cup of Nations]] tournament was attacked by gunmen, even though it had an escort of Angolan forces. The ensuing gunfight resulted in the deaths of the assistant coach, team spokesman and bus driver, and caused injuries to several others as well.

An offshoot of the FLEC claimed responsibility. [[Rodrigues Mingas]], secretary general of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda-Military Position (FLEC-PM), said his fighters had meant to attack security guards as the convoy passed through Cabinda. "This attack was not aimed at the [[Togo]]lese players but at the Angolan forces at the head of the convoy", Mingas told [[France&nbsp;24]] television. "So it was pure chance that the gunfire hit the players. We don't have anything to do with the Togolese and we present our condolences to the African families and the Togo government. We are fighting for the total liberation of Cabinda."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/11/two-arrested-togo-football-attack |work=The Guardian |location=London |title=Togo footballers were attacked by mistake, Angolan rebels say |first=James |last=Sturcke |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=28 April 2010 |archive-date=14 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014213829/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/11/two-arrested-togo-football-attack |url-status=live}}</ref>