Editing Cabinda Province (section)

==== 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>