Who Intervened In Angola's Civil War?

The Angolan Civil War, which began in 1975, was a power struggle between three anti-colonial guerrilla movements: the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA). The conflict was a proxy war between the Eastern Bloc, led by the Soviet Union, and the Western Bloc, led by the United States. South Africa and the United States backed UNITA and the FNLA, while communist nations backed the MPLA. Cuba sent combat troops to support the MPLA, and South African troops entered southern Angola in October 1975 to support the FNLA and UNITA.

The Cuban intervention in Angola, codenamed Operation Carlota, began on November 5, 1975

The civil war quickly became a proxy war between the Eastern Bloc, led by the Soviet Union, and the Western Bloc, led by the United States. Cuba's decision to send troops to Angola was made in direct response to the South African invasion of Angola, which began on October 23, 1975, and threatened to overthrow the MPLA government.

Cuba's intervention was decisive in repelling the South African-UNITA advance and securing the MPLA's control over the capital, Luanda. By the end of 1975, Cuban troops in Angola numbered nearly 10,000, and by the end of the Angolan Civil War in 2002, Cuba had deployed up to 36,000 troops to the country.

The Cuban intervention in Angola had far-reaching consequences, both regionally and internationally. It helped to solidify the MPLA's power in Angola and contributed to the end of apartheid in South Africa. Additionally, it strained relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, undermining the period of détente between the two superpowers.

The Soviet Union provided military training and equipment for the MPLA

The Soviet Union provided military training and equipment to the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) during the Angolan Civil War. The MPLA was a Marxist organisation based in the capital, Luanda, and was led by Agostinho Neto.

The Soviet Union's support for the MPLA can be traced back to the early 1960s when it began funnelling arms to the group for actions against the Portuguese. This support continued after Angolan independence in 1975, with the Soviet Union supplying military aid, advisers, and Cuban military personnel. The Soviets also provided economic aid and extended political support to the MPLA. In return, the Soviet Union gained access to military facilities, a reliable supporter of its positions in international forums, and a Third World model of Soviet-style "socialist-oriented" development.

The Soviet Union's military support for the MPLA was significant and included the supply of arms, training, and advisers. The Soviets supplied the MPLA with $300 million worth of materiel, including AK-47 assault rifles, mortars, recoilless rifles, antiaircraft guns, and tanks. The Soviet Union also provided military advisers, with around 1,000 to 1,200 advisers in Angola assisting in areas such as recruitment, training, and planning and conducting combat operations.

The Soviet Union's support for the MPLA played a crucial role in the conflict. With Soviet backing, the MPLA was able to consolidate power in Luanda and oust its rivals. The MPLA's success was also due to its long-established relations with Cuba, which provided military assistance, including thousands of troops. The combination of Soviet and Cuban support ultimately led to the MPLA becoming the official government of Angola.

The US supplied aid and training for both the FNLA and UNITA

The Angolan Civil War began in 1975, shortly after the country gained independence from Portugal. The war was a power struggle between two 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). A third movement, the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), had fought alongside UNITA during the Angolan War of Independence but played a minimal role in the Civil War.

The US government supplied aid and training for both the FNLA and UNITA. In July 1975, President Gerald Ford approved covert aid to UNITA and the FNLA through Operation IA Feature, despite opposition from officials in the State Department and the CIA. Ford provided an initial $6 million, with an additional $8 million granted on July 27 and a further $25 million in August. The CIA covertly supplied arms, ammunition, vehicles, food, and medicine to the FNLA and UNITA, with training provided by retired US military advisors.

The US support for the FNLA and UNITA was part of a broader Cold War context. The conflict in Angola was seen as a proxy war between the US and the Soviet Union, with their respective allies Cuba and South Africa also providing assistance to the opposing factions. The US viewed the MPLA as a Soviet proxy and aimed to prevent a Soviet-backed regime from taking power in Angola.

China sent military instructors to train the FNLA

In 1975, China sent military instructors to Angola to train the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA). This was part of a broader context of the Cold War, where superpowers and their allies delivered military assistance to their preferred clients.

China's involvement in Angola began as early as the 1960s, when it pledged "large-scale military aid" to the Union of Peoples of Northern Angola (UPNA), a founding group of the FNLA. In the following years, China provided the FNLA with military equipment and advisers. In 1974, China supplied the FNLA with at least 112 military advisers and weapons.

However, China's support for the FNLA was not consistent. During the Angolan War of Independence, China mainly supported the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), another rebel group. China's relationship with the FNLA was also influenced by its souring relations with the Soviet Union, which backed the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). As the MPLA's relationship with the Soviet Union strengthened, China pulled its support from the FNLA.

In 1975, the situation in Angola escalated into a civil war between the three main rebel groups: the MPLA, the FNLA, and UNITA. The civil war was fueled by Cold War tensions, with the Soviet Union and Cuba supporting the MPLA, and the United States, South Africa, and Zaire backing the FNLA and UNITA. China continued to support the FNLA and UNITA during the civil war, but its role was more limited compared to other external actors.

The FNLA, with its strong ties to the United States and Zaire, was well-armed and attempted to overthrow the MPLA in Luanda. However, the MPLA, backed by Cuba and the Soviet Union, successfully deflected the attack and turned their attention towards UNITA. The FNLA was eventually forced to retreat towards Zaire, and it played a minimal role in the civil war that followed.

China's decision to send military instructors to train the FNLA was part of its broader strategy in the Cold War context. By supporting the FNLA and UNITA, China sought to counter the influence of the Soviet Union and its allies in Angola. However, China's involvement in Angola was not consistent, and its support for the FNLA was limited compared to other external actors, such as the United States and South Africa.

The CIA secretly funnelled money to the FNLA through Zaire, without approval from the National Security Council

The Angolan Civil War began in 1975, shortly after Angola gained independence from Portugal. The conflict was a power struggle between three former anti-colonial guerrilla movements: the communist People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the anti-communist National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA).

The United States, along with Zaire, provided support for the FNLA. In August 1975, the US government, through the CIA, proposed funding the FNLA with $300,000 and UNITA with $100,000. The 40 Committee, part of the executive branch, approved the funding for the FNLA but not for UNITA. The CIA funnelled money to the FNLA through Zaire, and also supplied several thousand troops. The US National Security Council (NSC) and State Department were initially hesitant to provide further aid, as they believed it would escalate Soviet and Cuban involvement and lead to South African intervention, which would have negative diplomatic consequences for the US in Africa.

However, Henry Kissinger, then-US National Security Advisor, ensured that the NSC viewpoint prevailed, and in July 1975, the CIA was approved to send $14 million in aid to the FNLA and UNITA. This increased to $25 million in August and reached $32 million by September. The assistance became known as Operation IA Feature. The CIA covertly supplied the FNLA with arms, ammunition, vehicles, radios, medicine, food, and training by retired US military advisors.

Despite this support, the FNLA was defeated by the MPLA in the Battle of Quifangondo in November 1975, and the MPLA retained control of Luanda, declaring Angola's independence from Portugal. The FNLA continued to fight inside Angola for another four months but was ultimately defeated, and began retreating towards the Zairian border in early 1976.

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