Major Facts About The Angolan Civil War

The Angolan Civil War was a bloody conflict that began immediately after Angola gained independence from Portugal on November 11, 1975.

It was a power struggle between three groups: the MPLA, backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba; UNITA, supported by the U.S., South Africa, and Brazil; and the FNLA, which had a smaller role.

Cold War tensions caused the war. Cuba sent about 18,000 troops to help the MPLA. South Africa and Zaire supported the other factions, and the fighting lasted 27 years.

An estimated 500,000 to 800,000 people died. Nearly 4 million were forced from their homes.However, the war officially ended in 2002 with a peace deal. But Angola still struggles with poverty, a weak economy.

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Causes Of the Angolan Civil War

For centuries, Angola had been a Portuguese colony. But by the 1960s, several groups had started fighting for independence. The three main groups were the MPLA, FNLA, and UNITA. Each had different ethnic and political ideas.

The MPLA followed Marxist ideas and got support from the Mbundu people. The FNLA was backed by the Bakongo, while UNITA drew support from the Ovimbundu group.

In 1974, the Portuguese Carnation Revolution ended colonial rule. By early 1975, all three groups signed the Alvor Accord to form a joint government. But it didn’t last. The MPLA wanted full control, but FNLA and UNITA refused.

Fighting broke out, and the MPLA took over Luanda and most of the cities. UNITA pulled back to the south. Then the Cold War made things worse. The MPLA got support from the Soviet Union and Cuba.

Over 36,000 Cuban troops fought for them. UNITA and FNLA were backed by the United States, South Africa, and Zaire. South Africa even sent troops in 1975 to support anti-MPLA forces. Angola became a Cold War battlefield.

Ethnic mistrust and social divides made peace harder. Some groups felt ignored or left out. The MPLA’s one-party rule and socialist policies widened the gap. But oil and diamonds also played a big part.

UNITA used diamond sales to fund its army. Both sides fought hard to control the rich land and resources. In the end, Angola’s war was not just about power. It was also about history, fear, greed, and the hands of foreign powers that fed the fire.

Major Factions In The Angolan Civil War

Here are the four main factions that had a major impact on the war:

1. People’s Movement For The Liberation Of Angola (MPLA)

The MPLA was founded in 1956 and gained support from the Ambundu ethnic group and mixed-race communities. After Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975, the MPLA formed the country’s first official government.

Led first by Agostinho Neto and later by José Eduardo dos Santos, the MPLA secured the capital, Luanda, and held control of major cities and infrastructure.

Their rule was supported by thousands of Cuban troops, Soviet weapons, and political backing from the Eastern Bloc. Even Brazil offered limited air support. With this foreign aid, the MPLA maintained a strong conventional army and fought both UNITA and FNLA rebels throughout the war.

2. National Union For The Total Independence Of Angola (UNITA)

UNITA was founded in 1966 by Jonas Savimbi, who broke away from FNLA. The group drew support from the Ovimbundu people, Angola’s largest ethnic group, based in the central and southern regions.

Some eastern communities also supported them. Savimbi was a skilled speaker and powerful figure who led the group until he died in 2002. UNITA started with Chinese backing but later relied on support from the United States and apartheid South Africa.

They funded their war effort by selling diamonds mined in the eastern provinces, known as “blood diamonds.” Unlike the MPLA, UNITA operated mostly in the countryside, using guerrilla tactics to weaken the government and take control of rural regions.

3. National Front For The Liberation Of Angola (FNLA)

The FNLA was created in 1962 and was most active during the independence struggle against Portugal. It was supported by the Bakongo ethnic group in northern Angola. Holden Roberto led the movement and hoped to revive the old Kongo Kingdom.

During the early years, the FNLA had backing from China and neighboring Zaire under Mobutu Sese Seko. The U.S. later offered limited support. However, the FNLA lost ground after independence.

It failed to capture Luanda and was pushed aside by the stronger MPLA and UNITA forces. By the late 1970s, the FNLA had faded as a major military force.

4. Front For The Liberation Of The Enclave Of Cabinda (FLEC)

FLEC was not a major player in the main civil war but fought a separate conflict. They wanted to win independence for Cabinda, an oil-rich province cut off from the rest of Angola by a strip of Congo.

Different factions made up FLEC, all demanding autonomy. The group carried out bombings, kidnappings, and ambushes against the MPLA government.

Though less powerful than other factions, FLEC was a persistent threat in the north. Its strength declined over the years, and a ceasefire was signed in 2006. However, low-level unrest in Cabinda continued even after the main civil war ended.