General information
Part of Conflict: Angola: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1975-07-26
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: Although fighting for control of the capital (Luanda) between the MPLA and FNLA had been ongoing since early 1975, the first clear statement of the intent to overthrow the de facto MPLA government was made on 26 July that year, after FNLA forces had been driven out of the capital by MPLA. Holden Roberto, the FNLA’s leader, stated that his forces were “advancing in the direction of Luanda, to smash completely the fanatical and lunatic bourgeois traitors of the notorious and death-rattling MPLA”, and explicitly ruled out the possibility of a negotiated solution. Daniel Chipenda, a former MPLA member who had defected to the FNLA, at around the same time stated that the group was advancing on Luanda with the intent of taking over power, not to negotiate.
Date of first use of armed force: 1975-11-11
Comment on date of first use of armed force: On 11 November, at the time for independence, heavy fighting was taking place south of Luanda. At this time, MPLA was in control of the capital and is thus seen as the de facto government from the outset of the intrastate armed conflict.
First Battle Related Death: 1975-11-11
Comment on First Battle Related Death: Most likely, the death toll was substantial already during the first day of independence, as heavy fighting was reported south of Luanda.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1975-11-11
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: Most likely, the death toll was substantial already during the first day of independence, as heavy fighting was reported south of Luanda.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1975
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Angola): Government of Cuba
Side B (FNLA): Government of DR Congo (Zaire), Government of South Africa
1976
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Angola): Government of Cuba
Side B (FNLA): n/a
1977
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Angola): Government of Cuba
Side B (FNLA): n/a
1978
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Angola): Government of Cuba
Side B (FNLA): n/a
1979
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Angola): Government of Cuba
Side B (FNLA): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1975 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: At Angola’s independence on 11 November 1975, the transitional government agreed upon in January had disintegrated and heavy fighting was ongoing between the three constituent groups (MPLA, UNITA and FNLA). However, MPLA held Luanda and surrounding areas, and is therefore from the outset seen as the government party in UCDP data. Prior to independence, the MPLA had forced the FNLA and UNITA out of Luanda, with FNLA withdrawing towards the Zairean border and UNITA to southern Angola. During the summer, UNITA and the FNLA regrouped and launched a massive joint campaign with the goal of toppling the government MPLA was setting up. In this campaign, the FNLA was supported by Zairean troops in its advances from the north, and made joint advances alongside UNITA with South African support from southern Angola. At independence, heavy clashes were taking place. After initial setbacks, losing some important cities south of Luanda, by the end of the year the MPLA government had with Cuban support started to gain the upper hand. The FNLA was pushed towards limited areas in the north.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: Several African heads of state and other concerned actors called for a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but no talks between the MPLA government and its opponents, UNITA and FNLA, were held. All three groups reiterated the intention to go on fighting.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1976 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: In early 1976, the FNLA suffered military defeats and was driven towards the Zaire border by government forces. In the first half of January, the FNLA lost its headquarters in Uige and several other bases. In late February, FNLA announced it would abandon conventional warfare and begin a guerrilla struggle. Sporadic clashes took place in the north during the rest of the year, with FNLA claims of successes usually being denied by the government. Meanwhile, Zaire, which had in 1975 contributed secondary warring support to FNLA, began to normalize its relations with the Angolan government. In February, talks between presidents Neto and Mobutu led to a joint communiqué stating that neither state would allow bases for groups fighting against the neighbouring government, and in March FNLA headquarters in Kinshasa were shut down by Zairean police.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: In early March, the FNLA proposed a ceasefire and peace talks in exchange for withdrawal of Cuban troops and Soviet support to the government. However, the proposal did not result in any talks being held.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1977 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: FNLA in 1977 claimed to control large parts of northern Angola and to have 18 000 men under its command; however, clashes between the FNLA and the government were only on a low scale, and most evidence suggested the group was significantly weakened.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1978 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1979 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: The FNLA continued to wage a guerrilla struggle in 1979. However, in the late part of the year, the FNLA lost its support from Zaire, which was establishing better relations with Angola’s government. Weakened by the loss of support, the group began to disintegrate at the end of 1979.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1979-12-31
Comment on Termination: In late 1979, the FNLA lost its support from Zaire, which was establishing better relations with Angola’s government. In October that year, Angola and Zaire signed an agreement promising to end support for groups fighting against the other, and Zaire announced FNLA leaders would have to leave the country. Weakened by the loss of support, the group began to disintegrate at the end of 1979. By 1980, fighting involving the FNLA no longer reached the threshold of an armed conflict.
