Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
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Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
Part of Angolan Civil War and South African Border War
Date September 10, 1987 -1988
Location Cuito Cuanavale, Angola
Result South African Tactical and Operational Victory. Strategic Result Disputed
Combatants
FAPLA, Military of Cuba, SWAPO SADF, UNITA
Commanders
Cuba: Leopoldo Cintra SADF: Col. Deon Ferreira
Strength
40,000 combined estimate 11,000-12,000 combined estimate (3,000-4,000 SADF; 8,000 UNITA)
Casualties
- 14 Cuba[1] (Official)
- estimates range from 900 to 4,000 combined - 31 SADF
- Unita n/a

The battle of Cuito Cuanavale was one of the most important episodes of both the Civil War in Angola (which started in 1975 and ended in 2002) and the South African Border War. The armies of Cuba, Angola and South Africa met at Cuito Cuanavale in 1987, and the battle has been called "Africa's largest land battle since World War II".[1] With all sides claiming victory, it was considered a turning point in the Angolan civil war, contributing to the departure of Cuban, South African and other foreign troops from Angola.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Context
o 1.1 Independence from Portugal
o 1.2 Angolan Civil War
o 1.3 Cold War
* 2 Roleplayers
o 2.1 MPLA
o 2.2 Eastern Bloc
o 2.3 UNITA
o 2.4 South Africa
o 2.5 FNLA
* 3 Battle
o 3.1 FAPLA advance on Mavinga
o 3.2 South African reaction
o 3.3 FAPLA retreat
o 3.4 Attack on Cuito Cuanavale
o 3.5 Outcome
* 4 Quotes
* 5 References
* 6 External links

[edit] Context

[edit] Independence from Portugal

See also: Portuguese Colonial War

For 16 years until 1975, three armed groups fought for Angola's independence from Portugal: the Marxist MPLA (with its armed wing FAPLA), led by Agostinho Neto; the conservative FNLA, led by Holden Roberto; and UNITA, led by the charismatic Jonas Savimbi.

Each group controlled specific areas of the country: the MPLA controlled the capital, Luanda; UNITA controlled the south of Angola; and the FNLA controlled the north.

Soon after the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, Lisbon began letting go of its African colonies and Angola received its independence. The Treaty of Alvor comprised a series of agreements between the three rebel factions and Portugal that paved the way to full sovereignty.

Under the terms of the treaty, a transitional government was formed, elections were scheduled for the end of the year, and November 11, 1975 was slated as Angola's independence day. When the day arrived, Agostinho Neto proclaimed: "At 0:00 hours of November 11 of 1975, in the name of the Angola's people and the central committee of the MPLA. I proclaim the independence".[2] By seizing the mantle of Angola's independence, the MPLA shattered the truce between the three rebel groups and the country descended into civil war.

[edit] Angolan Civil War

With the MPLA's tendentious declaration of independence, civil war erupted between the three rebel groups and continued more or less unabated until 2002. The Angolan Civil War was one of the most complex and brutal conflicts in African history, drawing in regional actors and the Cold War superpowers. It cost an estimated one million lives and devastated the country's infrastructure.

[edit] Cold War

The tragedy played out against the backdrop of the Cold War struggle between the Soviet Union and the United States. Both superpowers realised the strategic importance of southern Africa, a region rich in natural resources (petroleum, natural gas, gold, diamonds) and ringed by shipping routes along its coast. Both sides tried to influence the outcome of the civil war through proxies. Cuba and the Soviet-led Eastern bloc gave overt military support to the MPLA and Namibian rebels, while the United States (and, to a much lesser extent, France) countered by bolstering UNITA and South Africa with sales of war material.

[edit] Roleplayers

[edit] MPLA

The MPLA, outgunned by its enemy UNITA (supported by South Africa), reached out to the Communist regime of Cuba for support. Between January and August of 1975, the MPLA was furnished with a military school, weapons, means of transport, transmitters, uniforms and combat equipment.[3] By the end of the year, Cuban troops had arrived on Angolan soil to back up FAPLA after the Battle of Quifadongo. By March of 1976, Cuba had sent around 36,000 troops to the region, mainly to provide logistical support to FAPLA officers.