FLEC funds itself through the kidnapping of foreign oil companies' employees who are working in Cabinda

The Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave (FLEC) was founded in 1963.  FLEC is a nationalist movement devoted to the creation of an independent state of Cabinda.  Today, Cabinda is a province within the state of Angola.  Shortly after its founding, FLEC divided into three principle factions: "Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave - Renewed," "FLEC - Forces Amardas de Cabinda," and "Frente Democratica de Cabinda."  These separate factions (some might say splinter groups) contain their own military wings to complement their political goals. <p><p><p>The FLEC-R, with the support of some Cabindans, make three arguments for independence from Angola.  The first argument is geographic.  Cabinda and Angola are non-contiguous.  A thin strip of land belonging to the Democratic Republic of the Congo separates Cabinda from Angola.  Second, some historical documents imply that Portugal, Angola's former colonizer, regarded Angola and Cabinda as separate states.  Finally, and most importantly, Cabinda produces 60% of Angola's total oil output of approximately 700,000 barrels per day.  Angola's oil accounts for 90% of its total export earnings, so the financial argument for Cabindan independence is strong.  The Cabindan oil industry, however, is not sympathetic to the FLEC-R, due to the group's practice of kidnapping oil executives.  It is hard to imagine how FLEC-R could control an oil-based economy after a history of targeting individuals and companies in the oil industry.

The Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave has always been deeply divided.  In many ways, FLEC is comprised of several factions that operate independently of each other.  The three main factions are "Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave - Renewed (FLEC-R)," "Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave - Forces Amardas de Cabinda (FLEC-FAC)," and  "Frente Democratica de Cabinda (FDC)."  All three main factions have military wings. In addition to the groups mentioned, there are several less important FLEC factions operating today.  These include FLEC/Original, UNCL, UNALEC, and FLEC/Lubota.<p>The Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave continues to push for the independence of Cabinda.  Certain FLEC divisions, primarily FLEC-R, FLEC-FAC, and FDC, often resort to violence and kidnapping.  Their primary victims are the employees of foreign companies that operate in Cabinda.