Angola Flashcards
What led to civil war in Angola
1975 Angola independent from Portugal- movements agree to cooperate however outside involvement undermines cooperation
What were the rival movements
Popular movement for liberation of Angola ( MPLA)- controlled oil
Front for the liberation of Angola (FLNA)
National Union for independent for Angola (UNITA)- cpntrolled diamonds
What were the aims of MPLA and what did they do
Lead by NETO, supported the creation of a communist state
supported by the USSR
Why did the USSR support MPLA
Marxist policies
MPLA government would be pro soviet
Counter US backed Mobutu regime in Congo
Sphere of Influence
Why did Cube become involve din the Angola
Historical links owing to the slave trade
Castro made an early commitment to MPLA
Castro own ambitions- world revoltuion
Why did the USA get involve in Angola
US foreign policy in Africa to counteract Soviet influence
Cold war sphere of influence
The advancement of MPLA led to the USA send funding and supplied large quantities of weapons’
but didn’t fully commit to Angola
What was the Nature of military involvement of the soviet union
Large quantities of weapons’ provided to MPLA (MPLA succeeded in defeating FNLA)
MPLA provided with soviet technical advisors
MPLA dominated Angolan government relied heavilty on soviet bloc
What was the Nature of military involvment of the Soviet union
Cuban troops reinforce Angolan army
Increased troop numbers
Castro wanted to spread communist through involvement
What were the aims of FNLA and what did they do
- Links with China and USA to counter act soviet support for MPLA
-initially in a strong position
-MPLA overthrew due to Soviet and Cuban support
Why was South Africa Invovled
South African miltray forces invaded Angola in 1975 aided by UNITA and FNLA
threatend Luanda
demonstate that SA was an ally
Feared MPLA provided bases for ANC
What led to Regional stabilty in Angola
increased armed struggle ans SA attacks
large number of cuban adn south african soilders
Refugges left and moved out to Zaire and Zmabia casuing econmoc stability
What was the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
1987- Battle developed in Cuito Caunavale
South africa troops attacked town in suppoert of UNITA
which was defened by cuban piolts using soviet planes but SA lost control and failed to entire the town
Why was the Battle of cuitio Cuanavale a turning point
bought war to an end
withdrawal of sa and cuban forces
