Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave - Renewed

Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave -- Founding Group

FLEC-R funds itself through the kidnapping of employees of foreign oil companies that work 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>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  Second, some historical documents imply that Portugal, Angola's former colonizer, regarded Angola and Cabinda as separate states.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.

Today, FLEC-R's primary goals are unclear.  In October 2001, long-time FLEC-R leader Jose Tiburcio claimed that he was abandoning armed struggle.  The response of other members of the FLEC-R to this development is unknown.

Front for the Liberation of the French Somali Coast

Front for the Liberation of the Coast of Somalia, Front for the Liberation of the Somali Coast, Somali Coast Liberation Front