Angolan Civil War

The Angolan Civil War was a major civil war in the African country of Angola.  It started in 1975 and continued until 2002. The war began right after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. The Civil War was mostly a fight for power between two former liberation movements, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Other countries got involved in the war because they wanted their own ideologies to win. This made the Angolan war part of the Cold War. In 2002 the MPLA won.

About 500,000 people died in the war. The war also did a lot of damage to buildings in Angola. Because of all the damage, in 2003 80% of Angolans lacked access to basic medical care, 60% lacked access to water, and 30% of Angolan children would die before the age of 5, with an overall national life expectancy of less than 40 years of age. With the civil war between 1975 and 2002 it was 27 years of fighting.

 Background 
In 1575, the Portuguese started to colonize parts of what is now Angola. Before, some of the land was part of the Kingdom of Kongo.

 Combatants 

 MPLA 
The MPLA was a communist group fighting for Angolan independence. Its leader was Agostinho Neto. They were supported by the Soviet Union.

 UNITA 
UNITA was an anti-communist group also fighting for Angolan independence. Its leader was Jonas Savimbi.

 FNLA 
FNLA was another anti-communist independence group. Its leader was Holden Roberto. The US gave them money by funneling it through Zaire.

 War 

 1970s 
In 1975, Portugal signed the Alvor Agreement with MPLA, UNITA, and FNLA. The agreement said, that, Angola would become independent on 11 November 1975.

 Aftermath 
The war destroyed a lot of buildings in Angola.
There are still landmines remaining killing and hurting people.

References

Category:Civil wars involving Africa
Category:1970s conflicts
Category:1980s conflicts
Category:1990s in Africa
Category:1990s conflicts
Category:2000s conflicts
Category:2000s in Africa
Category:1975 in Africa
Category:1976 in Africa
Category:1977 in Africa
Category:1978 in Africa
Category:1979 in Africa
Category:20th century in Angola
Category:Cold War
Category:20th century in Namibia
Category:20th century in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Category:History of the Soviet Union
Category:Wars involving South Africa
Category:21st century in Namibia