Angola's Woes - Part VIII

Continued from Part VII

The Chaotic 80s

In July 1985, the US Congress repealed legislation which since 1976 had prohibited US military support for UNITA. In January 1986, UNITA's leader, Dr Jonas Savimbi, visited the United States. The United States, which was the only Western country not to recognize the MPLA at the time of Angola's independence, began providing military assistance to UNITA as part of a global strategy to support anti-Communist guerrilla movements.

The US Congress approved legislation prohibiting the purchase of Angolan petroleum and petroleum products by the US department of defense in October 1986. Meanwhile, Savimbi attempted to improve UNITA's international standing and visited the European Parliament in October. His trip was a disaster; the European parliament refused to grant him official recognition and proceeded to condemn the US support for UNITA and to propose the imposition of compulsory and comprehensive sanctions against South Africa.

In a sudden gesture of goodwill, UNITA offered to allow non-military traffic to operate on the Benguela railway, which had been effectively closed since 1975 owing to persistent sabotage by the rebels. In April 1987, Angola, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe discussed the possible reopening of the railway line, which provides the shortest west coast route from Zambia and Zaire. However, UNITA's sincerity with regard to ceasing its sabotage activities became questionable in June when it launched an attack on the railway.

At the same time, South African security forces were becoming increasingly active inside Angola and Namibia. South Africa announced that it had engaged in direct action against Soviet and Cuban forces. In late November, the UN Security Council demanded the unconditional withdrawal of South African troops from Angola within two weeks. Having eventually agreed to comply with this demand, South Africa nevertheless remained militarily active in Angola in the first half of 1988.

To be continued...