The Angolan Civil War was a protracted armed conflict that took place in Angola, a country located in southern Africa, from 1975 to 2002. The war erupted soon after Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and involved multiple factions vying for political control of the nation.
The conflict primarily involved three main groups: the Popular 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 MPLA, backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba, aimed to establish a socialist government, while UNITA, supported initially by the United States and later by South Africa, sought to establish a capitalist regime. The FNLA also competed for power, supported by different regional players.
The war was characterized by a complex web of alliances and shifting loyalties, with all sides receiving support from various external actors. It resulted in significant loss of life, with estimates ranging from several hundred thousand to over one million people killed, along with mass displacements and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
Ultimately, the MPLA emerged as the dominant force, and the conflict officially ended in 2002 when UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi was killed, and UNITA signed a peace agreement with the Angolan government. The civil war had extensive implications for Angola's socio-economic development and left the country with numerous challenges to overcome in the post-war period.
