UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Portuguese: União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola, abbr. UNITA) is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought alongside the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) in the Angolan War for Independence (1961–1975) and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war (1975–2002). The war was one of the most prominent Cold War proxy wars, with UNITA receiving military aid initially from the People's Republic of China from 1966 until October 1975[4][5] and later from the United States[a] and apartheid South Africa while the MPLA received support from the Soviet Union and its allies, especially Cuba.[6][7]
Not to be confused with UNITAS.
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola
13 March 1966
Revolutionary United Youth of Angola
Angolan Women's League
FALA (until 1993)
- Centre to right-wing[1]
- Formerly:
- Far-left
Until 1996, UNITA was funded through Angolan diamond mines in both Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul along the Cuango River valley, especially the Catoca mine, which was Angola's only Kimberlite mine at that time.[8] Valdemar Chidondo served as chief of staff in the government of UNITA,[9] pro-Western rebels, during the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002). Jonas Savimbi, leader of UNITA, allegedly ordered Chidondo's assassination.[10]
Savimbi's successor as president of UNITA was Isaías Samakuva. Following Savimbi's death, UNITA abandoned armed struggle and participated in electoral politics. The party won 51 out of 220 seats in the 2017 parliamentary election. Samakuva resigned as party leader in November 2019, being replaced by Adalberto Costa Júnior.
Founding[edit]
Jonas Savimbi and Antonio da Costa Fernandes founded UNITA on 13 March 1966 in Muangai in Moxico province in Portuguese Angola (during the Estado Novo regime). 200 other delegates were present in the event.[7] UNITA launched its first attack on Portuguese colonial authorities on 25 December 1966.[11]
Savimbi was originally affiliated with Holden Roberto's National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA). UNITA later moved to Jamba in Angola's southeastern province of Cuando Cubango. UNITA's leadership was drawn heavily from Angola's majority Ovimbundu ethnic group and its policies were originally Maoist, they quickly abandoned the Maoist struggle, when they started collaborating with Portuguese Officials against the MPLA.[12] They then aimed for rural rights and recognized ethnic divisions. During the 1980s, however, UNITA was aligned with the United States and apartheid South Africa. After the 1992 Angolan general election, UNITA lost its support from the United States and was only supported by apartheid South Africa.[7]