The Rise Of Angola's Mpla: A Historical Perspective

The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) was founded in 1956 through the merger of two nationalist organisations: the underground Angolan Communist Party (PCA) and the Party of the United Struggle for Africans in Angola (PLUAA). It was centred in the country's capital, Luanda, and led by Agostinho Neto, who became Angola's first president. The MPLA fought for Angola's independence from Portugal, alongside the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). However, the three groups were also rivals, and after the Portuguese left Angola in 1975 without transferring power, the MPLA, FNLA, and UNITA were left to struggle for control. With military support from Cuba and the Soviet Union, the MPLA took the central part of the country, including Luanda, and established a Marxist-Leninist government.

The MPLA's formation in 1956

The MPLA, or the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, was founded in 1956 through the merger of two nationalist organisations: the underground Angolan Communist Party (PCA) and the Party of the United Struggle for Africans in Angola (PLUAA). The MPLA was centred in Luanda, Angola's capital city, and its core base included the Ambundu ethnic group and the educated intelligentsia of Luanda.

The MPLA was one of three main groups that sought Angola's independence from Portugal, the other two being Jonas Savimbi's UNITA and the FNLA. Although the three groups shared the goal of defeating Portugal, they were also rivals. The MPLA's approach was the least tribalist and the most nationalist of the three, and it emphasised political training and liberation for all Angolans, regardless of ethnic origin, place of birth or skin colour.

The MPLA welcomed support from socialist countries, particularly Cuba and the Soviet Union, but always maintained its independence as a movement. It was also the only liberation group to fight a continuous guerrilla action and to seek to be a national, rather than regional, force.

The Angolan War of Independence

The conflict began as an uprising by Angolans against the Portuguese imposition of forced cultivation of cotton as a commodity crop. As the resistance spread, multiple factions developed, including three nationalist movements and a separatist movement. The nationalist forces included the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA).

The war was characterised by guerrilla warfare waged by the Angolans, with the Portuguese army and security forces conducting counter-insurgency campaigns. Many atrocities were committed by all forces involved.

The war ended when a peaceful coup in Lisbon in April 1974 overthrew Portugal's Estado Novo dictatorship. The new regime immediately ceased all military action in its African colonies and granted them independence without delay.

The conflict resulted in a high number of casualties and displaced persons, and it set the stage for the Angolan Civil War that followed.

The MPLA's socialist orientation

The MPLA, or the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, was founded in 1956 through the merger of two nationalist organisations. The party was centred in Luanda, the capital of Angola, and led by Agostinho Neto from the early 1960s. The MPLA was one of three groups seeking Angola's independence from Portugal, alongside the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA).

The MPLA regarded its struggle as primarily political rather than military. In a 1969 report to the UN Committee on Decolonization, the MPLA stated: "The guerrilla is, above all, one who wishes to revolutionize society, an essentially political person." The MPLA welcomed support from socialist countries, considering them "natural allies" while maintaining its independence as a movement.

In 1977, the MPLA officially adopted Marxism-Leninism as its party ideology, adding the words "Party of Labour" to its name. However, following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the MPLA shifted away from Marxism-Leninism towards a more market-driven economic policy.

The MPLA's international support

The MPLA, or the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, emerged from the merger of two nationalist organisations in 1956. It was centred in the country's capital, Luanda, and led by Agostinho Neto from the early 1960s. The MPLA fought for Angola's independence from Portugal, alongside the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). However, these groups were also rivals, and following the Portuguese departure in 1975, they were left to struggle for control.

The MPLA received significant international support, particularly from Cuba and the Soviet Union. This support was crucial in the power struggle, as the MPLA took control of the central part of the country, including Luanda. With this advantage, the MPLA declared Angola's independence as the People's Republic of Angola and established a Marxist-Leninist government.

Cuba and the Soviet Union provided military and humanitarian aid to the MPLA. Cuban troops were involved in suppressing internal dissent within the MPLA, and they fought alongside the movement against the Portuguese. The Soviet Union also offered economic and military assistance, including arms shipments. This support was instrumental in the MPLA's victory over rival factions and the establishment of a one-party state.

In addition to Cuba and the Soviet Union, the MPLA received support from various other countries, including Algeria, Brazil, East Germany, Cape Verde, and the Congo. This international backing played a crucial role in the MPLA's success and its ability to maintain power in Angola.

The MPLA's role in the Angolan Civil War

The Angolan Civil War began in 1975, immediately after Angola gained independence from Portugal, and continued until 2002. It was a power struggle between two former anti-colonial guerrilla movements: the communist People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the anti-communist National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The MPLA's role in the Angolan Civil War was complex and multifaceted, with the movement experiencing internal conflicts, shifting alliances, and significant losses before ultimately achieving victory in 2002.

The MPLA was formed in 1956 as an offshoot of the Angolan Communist Party, with its support base among the Ambundu people and the multiracial intelligentsia in cities such as Luanda. During the war, the MPLA received support from Cuba, the Soviet Union, and other African countries. In 1974, the MPLA joined forces with the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) to fight against the Portuguese empire in Africa.

As Angola gained independence, the MPLA, led by Agostinho Neto, controlled Luanda and the lucrative oil fields along the Atlantic coastline. Neto declared the independence of the Portuguese Overseas Province of Angola as the People's Republic of Angola on November 11, 1975. This declaration reignited civil war between the MPLA and the UNITA-FNLA alliance, with the MPLA ultimately gaining the upper hand.

The MPLA faced internal conflicts during the war, including an attempted coup in 1977 led by Nito Alves. This coup attempt resulted in a violent internal conflict within the MPLA, with thousands of suspected followers and sympathizers of "orthodox communism" killed by Cuban and MPLA troops. Despite these internal struggles, the MPLA maintained its control over key areas and resources, particularly the oil fields.

In the late 1970s, the MPLA adopted Marxism-Leninism as its official ideology and established a one-party state. This shift in ideology led to increased tensions with the United States and strained relations between the two countries. The MPLA also faced external challenges, including military interventions by South Africa and Zaire in support of the FNLA and UNITA. However, the MPLA received crucial support from Cuba, which sent thousands of troops to aid the MPLA and played a decisive role in repelling the South African-UNITA advance.

The civil war continued with periods of major fighting and fragile peace until 2002. During this time, the MPLA and UNITA both exploited the country's oil and diamond reserves to fund their military campaigns. The MPLA also received significant financial and military support from the Soviet Union, which provided training and equipment.

In the early 1990s, the MPLA abandoned its Marxist-Leninist ideology and transitioned to social democracy. The war continued with fluctuating fortunes until 2002, when UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi was killed. This led to a ceasefire and a plan for UNITA to demobilize and join the political process. The civil war resulted in significant casualties, with over 500,000 civilians killed and more than one million internally displaced.

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