| 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). |
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1975 -
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Sources: Institute for Security Studies (ISS) - South Africa, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Centre for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM), University of Maryland, USA.
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