Angolan Conflict Analysis: A Lesson for Africa’s Emerging Leaders

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VII, July 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Angolan Conflict Analysis: A Lesson for Africa’s Emerging Leaders

Jeremiah Bvirindi

PhD Student, College of Business Peace, Leadership and Governance Africa University, Mutare Zimbabwe

Abstract – After 15 years of liberation struggle, Angola attained independence from Portugal in 1975. Almost immediately, the country descended into a civil war as power struggle ensued between the three former Liberation Movements namely, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) (which took over state rule after independence), the National Union for Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA).The civil war attracted the intervention of conflict entrepreneurs. Angola became a cold war zone with superpowers like United States of America, Union of Soviet Socialist Republic and France gaining ground for testing their weapons among other economic interests. South Africa’s drive for regional hegemony, and Zaire’s desire to establish influence in the area were examples of how seriously the rivalries and peace spoilers were bargaining for power at the expense of peace and sustainable development in Angola. The civil war was being funded by sales of diamonds and oil to United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Russia and Cuba in exchange for weapons and military personnel (mercenaries).Findings from research, indicated that fundamental issues underpinning the civil war ranged from power politics and control of resources. Deep ideological and strong ethnic differences, low literacy in the society, poor economic policies and corruption were also causes of the protracted conflict, making peace initiatives impossible. The Angolan civil war period can be divided as 1975-1991, 1992-1994, 1998-2002 with each period characterised by break-down of a fragile peace (Ferreira 2006). About 8 peace agreements were signed without success with the civil war escalating each time an agreement is signed, resulting in about 1.5 million people dying and more than 4 million people internally displaced (Amnesty International 2001).The death of the UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi in a battle in 2002 and the surrender of UNITA, signalled the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Armed Forces of Angola (FAA) and UNITA which brought the Angolan civil war to an end. The ceasefire and peace agreement, which outlawed any hostile interventions, triggered the demise of all external actors and peace spoilers as well as bringing to light a massive humanitarian crisis in which over 18 million people needed food assistance, more than 4 million displaced families needed repatriation, and over 85000 UNITA soldiers demobilized and more than 43000 family members became dependent on government and the international community (Kibble and Steve 2003). The focus on new Angola is now on post-conflict reconstruction, peace-building, respect for human rights and sustainable development.

Key words: goal incompatibility, peace, power politics, conflict entrepreneurs, peace spoilers

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