Development in Africa and the Americas

What two countries did Cuba intervene in?

Angola and Ethiopia

Angola:

• Portugal right-wing government overthrow 1974

• Angola promised independence and coalition government

• This contained the MPLA, FNLA and UNITA - an offshoot of FNLA

• A civil war broke out in 1975 between the Marxist MPLA and nationalist FNLA.

MPLA:

• The People’s Movement for the liberation of Angola

• Received military advisers from China and Arms and aid from USSR Pre-war

• 36,000 Troops from Cuba and economic assistance from USSR during war.

FNLA:

• The National Front for the Liberation of Angola

• Later became pro-US

• $300,000 in covert funding from CIA

• Military advisers from China that was revoked as war broke out

• Aid from Zaire and South Africa

• $25 million in supplies and $16 million in arms from US

Result of the Angolan Civil War:

• FNLA and South Africa forces where held at capital, Luanda by the Cuban and MPLA Forces.

• MPLA won and created the People’s republic of Angola

How many Cuban troops were stationed in Angola by 1988?

52,000

What did Cuba give to the PRA - People’s Republic of Angola as a token of their relationship post civil war?

Experts to assist in infrastructure development, healthcare and education

Why did the USSR support the MPLA?

Wanted to prevent the spread of Chinese communism and thought the US and Chinese support for the FNLA was a joint collaboration.

Why did China support both?

To play on both US fear of Soviet expansionism in Africa but also USSR fear of Chinese Communist expansionism with the help of US.

Ethiopia:

• Emperor Haile was overthrown by Marxist-Leninist led by Colonel Mariam

• Ethiopia and Somalia went to war when Somalia tried to retake Ogaden.

• Mariam then asked the USSR and Cuba for support

• USSR withdrew Somalian support and Cuba sent 15,000 troops to Ethiopia.

• Somalia then had to retreat in March 1978

Under what circumstances did the US intervene over communist intervention?

When it was in their ‘own backyard’

Chile:

• Allende - Socialist - elected as Chilean president, despite a US coup

• Allende then nationalised banking and copper

• USA blocked the World Bank lending to Chile and withdrew its own economic aid

• This led to inflation and economic turmoil, leading to Pinochet’s coup and long years of brutal dictatorship

Grenada:

• The leftist New Jewel movement then banned all other political parties and accepted aid from Cuba and USSR.

• Bernard Coard then seized power in a coup - 1983

• USA then sent 7000 troops to Grenada to protect American Medical students

• Soviets then walked out of the Geneva talks and Thatcher was angry that the UK had not been consulted

Nicaragua:

• The Sandinista’s took power in 1979 led by Saavedra

• Carter recognised them to keep Nicaragua is US sphere of influence

• Reagan then dismissed the Sandinista’s to support the anti-communist Contras

• To do this, the US illegally sold arms to Iran to use the profits to purchase arms for the Contras

• The Sandinistas then imposed censorship, conscription and reduction of civil liberties to combat this.