uMkhonto weSizwe's contribution to the defence of the African revolution in Angola

Abstract

Prior to independence, on 11 November, 1975, the prospective Angolan government under the leadership of the MPLA (Movimento Popular de Libertaçaõ de Angola) was under continuous attack from the FNLA (Frente Nacional de Libertaçaõ de Angola) and UNITA (Uniaõ Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola). The FNLA was attacking from the then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) with the support of the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and was repelled at Quifangondo, close to the capital, Luanda.  UNITA was advancing from the south in conjunction with the South African Defence Force (SADF) with the aim of capturing the capital before Independence Day. The joint UNITA-SADF forces, which held the town of N’Gunza (which was then called Novo Redondo), were repelled at the Queve River, Cuanza Sul Province by the People’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA). FAPLA forces were later on reinforced by Cuban forces that provided assistance in resisting the advancement of the joint UNITA-SADF forces to Luanda and ultimately the SADF withdrew from Angola on 27 March 1976.