Africa in the Cold War – Angola

These flashcards review the major actors, events, agreements, and consequences of Angola’s involvement in the Cold War—from Portuguese colonial rule and the three liberation movements to super-power interventions, pivotal battles, peace accords, and the war’s enduring legacy.

Which two super-powers turned Angola’s mid-1970s civil war into a Cold War ‘hot war’?

The United States and the Soviet Union.

What was the main reason the USA became involved in Angolan politics during the Cold War?

To limit the spread of communism in Africa.

Which apartheid-era country acted as Washington’s proxy on the ground in Angola?

South Africa (through the South African Defence Force – SADF).

Which Caribbean nation supplied large numbers of troops to support the MPLA?

Cuba.

Name the three primary Angolan nationalist movements involved in both the War of Independence and the Civil War.

MPLA, FNLA, and UNITA.

Who founded the MPLA in 1956 and later became its wartime leader?

Agostinho Neto.

Which foreign powers were the principal backers of the MPLA?

The USSR, Cuba, and several Eastern-bloc states (e.g., East Germany, Romania).

Which ethnic group and geographic area gave the MPLA its strongest domestic support?

The Ambundu people and the capital city region around Luanda.

Who led the FNLA, and which neighbouring head of state was his close ally?

Holden Roberto; his ally was Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire (DRC).

List two major foreign supporters of the FNLA during the War of Independence.

The United States and China (France and Israel also provided aid).

Who founded UNITA in 1966, and which ethnic group largely backed him?

Jonas Savimbi; he drew support mainly from the Ovimbundu people of south-central Angola.

Initially influenced by Chinese communism, which ideology did UNITA later adopt to attract U.S. support?

American-style capitalism / anti-communism.

What 1974 event in Portugal accelerated Angolan independence negotiations?

The Carnation Revolution – a military coup that toppled Portugal’s fascist regime.

Name the 1975 agreement that set a timetable for Angolan elections and independence.

The Alvor Agreement.

On what date did Angola formally achieve independence from Portugal?

11 November 1975.

Why did South Africa fear an MPLA-run Angola?

It worried the MPLA would allow the ANC and SWAPO to establish bases for attacks on apartheid forces.

Which city became the first major battleground of the Angolan Civil War?

Luanda, the capital.

Why did China stop supporting UNITA soon after the Civil War began?

Because UNITA accepted support from apartheid South Africa, which Beijing did not want to align with.

What was the name of the MPLA’s armed forces?

FAPLA – Forças Armadas Populares de Libertação de Angola.

Which territory rich in oil was forcibly integrated into Angola by the MPLA?

Cabinda.

Who succeeded Agostinho Neto as MPLA leader and president in 1979?

José Eduardo dos Santos.

During the early 1980s, which U.S. president resumed large-scale covert aid to UNITA?

President Ronald Reagan.

What was the codename for UNITA’s fortified headquarters in south-east Angola?

Jamba.

Which 1987–1988 confrontation became the largest battle of the Angolan Civil War?

The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale.

What type of Soviet aircraft did Cuban pilots use during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale?

MiG-21 fighter jets.

Which 1988 agreement ended formal foreign military involvement in Angola and granted independence to Namibia?

The New York Accords.

What global event in 1989 caused both the USSR and USA to curtail military aid to their Angolan clients?

The end of the Cold War / collapse of Soviet influence.

Which 1991 peace deal called for multi-party elections and unification of Angolan forces?

The Bicesse Accords.

Why did civil war resume after the 1992 elections, despite UN observers deeming them ‘generally free and fair’?

Jonas Savimbi rejected the results as ‘rigged,’ leading to renewed hostilities.

Name the 1994 agreement that required UNITA to disarm and integrate into state structures.

The Lusaka Protocol.

What 2002 document, signed after Savimbi’s death, finally ended the Angolan Civil War?

The Luena Memorandum (alongside recommitment to the Lusaka Protocol).

Approximately how many years did the Angolan Civil War last?

About 26 years (1975–2002).

Identify two long-term humanitarian consequences of the war still affecting Angola today.

Widespread landmine contamination and large internally displaced populations in urban slums like Luanda’s musseques.

Which enclave’s oil now provides much of Angola’s post-war revenue?

The offshore oilfields of Cabinda (and additional fields south of the Congo River mouth).

What is a key lesson about Cold War dynamics illustrated by Angola’s experience?

Superpower rivalry amplified local conflicts, prolonging wars and increasing civilian suffering by flooding regions with foreign arms, money, and troops.