Lunda Norte Province

Lunda Norte
Province
Lunda Norte, province of Angola
Lunda Norte, province of Angola
CountryAngola
CapitalDundo
Government
 • GovernorErnesto Muangala
 • Vice-Governor for the Political, Economic and Social SectorDeolinda Ódia Paulo Satula Vilarinho
 • Vice-Governor for Technical Services and InfrastructuresLino dos Santos
Area
 • Total103,760 km2 (40,060 sq mi)
Population
 (2014 census)
 • Total862,566
 • Density8.3/km2 (22/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeAO-LNO
HDI (2018)0.510[1]
low · 13th
Websitewww.lundanorte.gov.ao

Lunda Norte (English: North Lunda) is a province of Angola. It has an area of 103,760 km² and a population of 862,566.[2] Angola's first President, Agostinho Neto, made Lucapa the provincial capital after independence, but the capital was later moved to Dundo. The province borders the Democratic Republic of Congo in the northeast and Lunda Sul in the south.[3] The province is rich in gold and diamonds,[4] but remains vastly underdeveloped and impoverished. UNITA used the money generated from the sale of diamonds to fund war efforts.[5] Cuango River valley, the richest diamond area of Angola is located in the province.[6] Mining is done by notable companies like DeBeers and Endiama.[7][8] The Lunda province whose capital was Saurimo[9] was created by the Portuguese colonial empire on July 13, 1895. It was divided into Lunda-Sul and Lunda-Norte subdivisions through a constitution act in 1978 by the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) government.[10] Iron and manganese mining are also important economic activities.[11] It is well known for its sculptures. The most notable one is The Thinker (O Pensador), a sculpture of a man holding his head.[3] It is rich in terms of flora and fauna.[12]

Lunda Norte is populated by Chokwe, Lunda, and other ethnical groups. Ernesto Muangala is the current governor of the province. Lino dos Santos, Deolinda Odia Paulo Satula Vilarinho and Ângêlica Nené Curita Ihungo are the deputy governors for Technical and Infrastructure Services, Economic Sector Area and Political and Social Sector Area respectively.[13] An ethnographic museum located in the province is visited by many tourists.[14] During the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002) many civilians were killed in the clashes between National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).[15] Diamond mining operations were also affected.[16] Many landmines laid during the civil war are still present in the province.[17] Leprosy and Elephantiasis are major disease which affect the province.[18]

  1. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  2. ^ 2014 population census (INE Angola) - page 89 Archived 2016-05-06 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b Stead & Rorison 2013, p. 305.
  4. ^ "Two diamond mining projects in Angola's Lunda Norte province are to be re-launched". Macau Hub. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  5. ^ "International Spotlight : Angola". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  6. ^ James 2004, p. 41.
  7. ^ IBP USA Staff 2009, p. 48.
  8. ^ IBP USA Staff 2009, p. 68.
  9. ^ Stead & Rorison 2013, p. 309.
  10. ^ James 2004, p. 135.
  11. ^ "Angola Press : Lunda Norte". Agencia Angola Press. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  12. ^ Stead & Rorison 2013, p. 4.
  13. ^ "Angola : Lunda Norte government". Agencia Angola Press. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Angola Press : Lunda Norte's Natural and Historical Points". Agencia Angola Press. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  15. ^ Weigert 2011, p. 154.
  16. ^ Weigert 2011, p. 153.
  17. ^ Roberts & Williams 1995, p. 100.
  18. ^ James 2004, p. 68.