Angola's Woes - Part XII

Continued from Part XI

The Turbulent 90s

In January1990, UNITA forces attacked Cuban troops resulting in the deaths of four Cuban soldiers leading to Cuba's decision to suspend its troop withdrawal. The following month fighting intensified between FAPLA and UNITA forces in the Mavinga region of southern Angola, a UNITA stronghold. In March, UNITA agreed to accept an immediate cease-fire on condition that FAPLA forces withdraw from Mayinga. The next month in a summit meeting in Sao Tome and Principe dos Santos gave a commitment for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Following this, UNITA agreed to an immediate cease-fire and requested direct talks with the government, abandoning its demand for the withdrawal of FAPLA troops from Mavinga. Later in that month, talks between representatives of UNITA and the government were held in Portugal. FAPLA withdrew its troops from southeastern Angola in June 1990.

In October, UNITA announced its acceptance of the MPLA-PT government as an interim administration, pending elections. During an historic meeting of the central committee of the MPLA-PT in late June and early July, it was decided that the country would evolve towards a multi-party political system, thus conceding one of UNITA's principal demands. The MPLA recognized that it needed to revise its political thinking and come to terms with UNITA. The Central Committee renounced Marxism-Leninism in favor of democratic socialism and a mixed economy. A general program of reforms was proposed including the transformation of the army from a party to a state institution, a revision of the constitution and the holding of multi-party elections in 1994. However, there was disagreement over the timing of elections and the interim status of UNITA. UNITA insisted on immediate political recognition as a precondition for a cease-fire, and elections by the end of 1991.

To be continued...