INDEPENDANT AFRICA: ANGOLA
Some terminology:
Sphere of influence: country or area in which another country has power to affect
developments although it has no real authority
Proxy war: fought by superpowers through other countries
FNLA: national front for liberation of angola
MPLA: movement for the liberation of angola
FAPLA: people's armed forces of liberation of angola
UNITA: national union for the total independence of angola
SWAPO: south west african peoples organisation
SADF: south african defence force
How Africa was drawn into the cold war:
- After WW2 strained relations between USSR and USA provided ideological
underpinnings of cold war
- Both nations wanted to expand spheres of influence into SA (resources)
- Friendly governments as allies to fight/ provide bases for nuclear warheads placement
- Southern and central africa provided fertile grounds for this
- Colonial powers declined in power after WW2 costs
- As many colonies pursued struggles for independence US, USSR and China filled
vacuums with money and arms
USA wanted to limit spread of communism in Africa:
- Ethiopia USA supplied weapons and support to Haile Selassie
- Angola USA sided with capitalist-leaning nationalist group sending weapons and military
support via South Africa
- Apartheid government feared that if neighbouring countries became socialist they would
allow ANC and SWAPO to establish military bases in these countries and attack the
government
- Apartheid government wanted to maintain good relationship with UK and USA
- Africa was an important site of minerals
, USSR support socialist independence movements:
- Angola USSR support socialist movement flooding region with AK-47 rifles and
landmines, used ‘satellites’ Cuba and East-Germany to provide military technicians
- Cuba had cultural ties to Angola because of trans-atlantic slave trade (many cubans
were ex-angolan slaves) ∴ Cuba was eager to help Angola rid capitalist oppression
- China competing with USSR for influence in Africa’s socialist movements
- China sent weapons via Tanzania to anti-imperialist movements
Angola under Portuguese Rule
→Angola was colonised by Portuguese 1575 when Luanda was established as a trading port
→brought them into conflict with Ndongo kingdom = name
→colony was consolidated 1884-5 Berlin conference - Scramble for Africa
→Portugal gained lots of wealth from ivory, rubber , food crops, cattle and mines and railways
→after WW2 Angolans called for independence but fascist Portuguese government under
Antenio Salazar ignored plea
→1950s characterised by state repression of suspected nationalism, arbitrary imprisonment and
physical abuse
3 Nationalist movements in Angolan Civil War
The start of internal resistance
1) MPLA movement for the liberation of Angola
1965, Had strong communist roots (USSR, Cuba, East Germany)
Received support from educated Angolans and Ambundu
Also supported by SWAPO
Leader = Neto
2) FNLA national front for the liberation of Angola
Founded in 1954 in North
Initially based on Bakongo nationalism
USA, China, Israel, DRC, France supported FNLA during independence war
Leader = Holden
3) UNITA national union for the total independence of Angola
Jonas Savimbi unsuccessful in joining MPLA and FNLA
1966 founded UNITA with support form South-East Angola and Ovimbundu
Anti-colonial stance influenced by Chinese communism
Later became influenced by American capitalism
China, USA, Egypt and SA supported during war of independence
Some terminology:
Sphere of influence: country or area in which another country has power to affect
developments although it has no real authority
Proxy war: fought by superpowers through other countries
FNLA: national front for liberation of angola
MPLA: movement for the liberation of angola
FAPLA: people's armed forces of liberation of angola
UNITA: national union for the total independence of angola
SWAPO: south west african peoples organisation
SADF: south african defence force
How Africa was drawn into the cold war:
- After WW2 strained relations between USSR and USA provided ideological
underpinnings of cold war
- Both nations wanted to expand spheres of influence into SA (resources)
- Friendly governments as allies to fight/ provide bases for nuclear warheads placement
- Southern and central africa provided fertile grounds for this
- Colonial powers declined in power after WW2 costs
- As many colonies pursued struggles for independence US, USSR and China filled
vacuums with money and arms
USA wanted to limit spread of communism in Africa:
- Ethiopia USA supplied weapons and support to Haile Selassie
- Angola USA sided with capitalist-leaning nationalist group sending weapons and military
support via South Africa
- Apartheid government feared that if neighbouring countries became socialist they would
allow ANC and SWAPO to establish military bases in these countries and attack the
government
- Apartheid government wanted to maintain good relationship with UK and USA
- Africa was an important site of minerals
, USSR support socialist independence movements:
- Angola USSR support socialist movement flooding region with AK-47 rifles and
landmines, used ‘satellites’ Cuba and East-Germany to provide military technicians
- Cuba had cultural ties to Angola because of trans-atlantic slave trade (many cubans
were ex-angolan slaves) ∴ Cuba was eager to help Angola rid capitalist oppression
- China competing with USSR for influence in Africa’s socialist movements
- China sent weapons via Tanzania to anti-imperialist movements
Angola under Portuguese Rule
→Angola was colonised by Portuguese 1575 when Luanda was established as a trading port
→brought them into conflict with Ndongo kingdom = name
→colony was consolidated 1884-5 Berlin conference - Scramble for Africa
→Portugal gained lots of wealth from ivory, rubber , food crops, cattle and mines and railways
→after WW2 Angolans called for independence but fascist Portuguese government under
Antenio Salazar ignored plea
→1950s characterised by state repression of suspected nationalism, arbitrary imprisonment and
physical abuse
3 Nationalist movements in Angolan Civil War
The start of internal resistance
1) MPLA movement for the liberation of Angola
1965, Had strong communist roots (USSR, Cuba, East Germany)
Received support from educated Angolans and Ambundu
Also supported by SWAPO
Leader = Neto
2) FNLA national front for the liberation of Angola
Founded in 1954 in North
Initially based on Bakongo nationalism
USA, China, Israel, DRC, France supported FNLA during independence war
Leader = Holden
3) UNITA national union for the total independence of Angola
Jonas Savimbi unsuccessful in joining MPLA and FNLA
1966 founded UNITA with support form South-East Angola and Ovimbundu
Anti-colonial stance influenced by Chinese communism
Later became influenced by American capitalism
China, USA, Egypt and SA supported during war of independence
