Who was the leader of UNITA in Angola?

Jonas Malheiro Savimbi (Portuguese: [ˈʒɔnɐʃ ˈsavĩbi]; 3 August 1934 – 22 February 2002) was an Angolan revolutionary politician and rebel military leader who founded and led the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

Why did the Portuguese colonize Angola?

Disputes over control of trade, particularly regarding slaves from Kongo and its neighbours, led the Portuguese to look for new allies, especially the Ndongo kingdom. After undertaking several missions there, the Portuguese established a colony at Luanda in 1575.

What is the meaning of UNITA?

UNITA, byname of National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or Portuguese União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola, Angolan political party that was originally founded to free the nation from Portuguese colonial rule.

What was Angola known for?

Angola is a country in Central Africa rich in natural resources. It has large reserves of oil and diamonds, hydroelectric potential, and rich agricultural land. Despite this, Angola remains very poor, having been ravaged by a bloody civil war from 1975 to 2002.

When did the UNITA movement start in Angola?

The Ovimundu-dominated UNITA movement only emerged in 1966. The pro-independence movements were riven by competition: for access to supplies, territory and popular support. [v] The Portuguese aggravated these divisions to further sow discord and forward their own goals.

Who was the National Union for Total Independence of Angola?

After being a US-backed rebellion for decades in Angola, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, or UNITA, is now struggling as a political entity. UNITA was created in 1966 by former MPLA member Jonas Savimbi, to fight Portugal, which ruled Angola as a colony.

Who was involved in the Civil War in Angola?

The war was a power struggle between two former anti-colonial guerrilla movements, the communist People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the anti-communist National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

Who was the leader of Angola in 1974?

The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), an offshoot of the FNLA, was led by Jonas Savimbi and supported by the country’s largest ethnic group, the Ovimbundu.