| 1885
- |
Cabinda becomes a protectorate of Portugal under
the Treaty of Simulanbuco |
| 1954
- |
Oil explorations begin. |
| 1956
- |
Portuguese government creates an administrative
union between Cabinda and Angola. |
| 1960
- |
Two groups, both seeking independence, are formed:
the Movement for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (MLEC)
under Luis Ranque Franque; and Alliance of Mayombe. |
| 1963
- |
The separatist groups join forces to form the
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), under
the leadership of the MLEC's Franque. In the same year the Organisation
for African Unity (OAU) ranks Cabinda as the 39th state still
to be decolonised, with Angola as the 35th. |
| 1967
- |
FLEC creates a government in exile, based in
the border town of Tshela, Zaire (now DRC). |
|
1975
- |
War of independence ends. Most Portuguese flee.
The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) declares
all other political parties illegal. |
| January
1975 - |
The Alvor Agreement, in which Cabinda is declared
"an integral and inalienable part of Angola", is signed by three
Angolan liberation movements: the Front National pour la Libération
de l’Angola (FNLA); the MPLA; and the National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). |
| February
1975 - |
The MPLA government declares it is ready to
negotiate with the separatists in Cabinda. FLEC demands include
the dissociation of Cabinda from Angola, the recognition of
FLEC as the only Cabindan liberation movement, and formal recognition
of the Cabindan people's right to self-determination. FLEC also
protests to the UN over the alleged killing of over 100 students
and villagers by MPLA and Portuguese troops. |
| July
1975 - |
Zairean president Mobutu Sese Seko calls for
a referendum on the future of the Cabinda enclave. Gabon, Uganda
and the Central African Republic openly support FLEC, but the
majority of OAU members firmly oppose the Cabindan separatists
and their demand for an independent state on the grounds that
it would encourage separatism elsewhere. Referendum does not
take place |
| 1977
- |
FLEC splits. The CMLC (Military Command for
the Liberation of Cabinda) claims the task of replacing FLEC
and reorganising the movement on a new democratic foundation. |
| 1979
- |
Jose Eduardo dos Santos becomes president of
Angola. |
| 1980-85 |
Further splits in FLEC with the formation of
the Cabinda Enclave Liberation Front - Renewal (FLEC-Renovada),
under the leadership of Antonio Bento-Bembe and FLEC-FAC (Armed
Forces of Cabinda) |
| May 1981
- |
Six men are sentenced to death on charges of
belonging to FLEC and carrying out bomb attacks against strategic
economic targets, schools and hospitals in mainland Angola.
Four more are sentenced to 24 years' imprisonment each. |
| 1983
- |
Luanda agrees to an unofficial amnesty for FLEC
guerrillas. More than 8,000 refugees return to Cabinda. |
|
February
1985 - |
A cease-fire is agreed between the MPLA government
and FLEC, but no formal resolution is reached. Zaire and Angola
agree to prohibit the use of each other's territory as rebel
bases. |
| September
29 and 30, 1992 - |
Between 7 percent and 12 percent of Cabindans
vote in national elections, following a boycott call by FLEC. |
| January
1993 - |
Full-scale civil war resumes between the MPLA
government and UNITA. Government deploys 15,000 troops in Cabinda.
FLEC (now FLEC-FAC - Armed Forces of Cabinda) controls the rural
interior and escalates its activities. Angolan government troops
occupy Cabinda town. |
| March
1994 - |
Eduardo Dos Santos, the president of Angola,
announces that talks with FLEC-FAC are about to begin, but the
talks do not take place. |
| August
1994 - |
UNITA accuses the Luanda government of carrying
out a "scorched earth" policy in Cabinda. UNITA reports that
the government has killed about 700 villagers in Katabuanga,
resulting in the flight of hundreds of other Cabindans to Congo
and Zaire. |
| 20 November
1994 - |
Lusaka peace accord signed between UNITA and
government. |
| 1996
- |
Cabindan independence fighters say they are
holding three mine workers kidnapped in Cabinda. The government
and the FLEC-FAC sign an agreement outlining a cease-fire. Namibia
plays a facilitating role in the peace process. But the agreement
fails as ongoing clashes between the Angolan Defence Force (FAA)
and Cabindan separatists result in a toll of 29 deaths. |
| 1997/98
- |
FAA operations increase in Cabinda, particularly
in villages suspected of supporting separatists. |
| 1998
- |
FLEC reports an attack by government troops,
resulting in some 200 casualties on both sides. |
| 1999
- |
FLEC-Renovada announces it is willing to negotiate
the release of two Portuguese and French citizens kidnapped
on 10 March in Cabinda, as long as the Catholic Bishop of Cabinda,
Dom Paulino Madeca, acts as mediator. |
|
2001
- |
Dos Santos once again suggests plans for negotiating
a peaceful settlement between the Angolan government and the
Cabindan separatists. |
| February
2001 - |
The government increases troops in the province
as separatist activity increases. |
| August
2001 - |
The Angolan Minister of the Interior, Fernando
da Piedade Dias dos Santos, appeals to FLEC separatists to end
hostilities. |
| December
2001 - |
Exploratory contacts between the leaders of
FLEC-FAC and the Angolan government. FLEC-Renovada sees any
dialogue as premature. |
| October
2002 - |
Hope of peace talks is dashed as the FAA launches
a major offensive. Dos Santos simultaneously announces that
a peaceful solution to the conflict, through the granting of
autonomy, is in sight. However, the government claims that because
of FLEC's fragmentation, there is no "valid interlocutor" with
which it can negotiate. |
| December
2002 - |
Human rights activists release details of widespread
allegations of human rights abuses in the enclave. The report
covers alleged abuses by both the Angolan security forces and
FLEC, but the overwhelming number of accusations are made against
government troops. |
| January
2003 - |
Exploratory talks between the government and
FLEC-FAC are held in Paris, France. The separatist group dismisses
government proposals. |
| February
2003 - |
The Governor of Cabinda, Anibal Rocha, announces
a draft political plan of action to be presented to Cabinda's
liberation movements and civic groups. The plan fails to materialise. |
| July
2003 - |
FLEC-FAC says it is still active despite the
recent defection of several key officials to the ruling party. |
| August
2003 - |
Luis Ranque Franque, original founder of FLEC
participates in exploratory talks with authorities in Luanda. |
| ? |
? |
|
Sources: Institute for Security Studies (ISS) - South Africa, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Centre for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM), University of Maryland, USA.
|
![[Photo Credit: IRIN]](images/CabindaLogo.jpg)