Angolan Civil War and Cuban Intervention

Angola’s transition from Portuguese rule produced war among the MPLA, FNLA and UNITA. The MPLA established a government in Luanda with Cuban and Soviet support, while South Africa and other external powers intervened against it.

Cuban troops remained a major military force as the conflict became a central theatre of the Cold War in southern Africa. Fighting intersected with Namibia’s independence struggle and regional intelligence operations.