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What happened on November 11th, 1975?

Published in Angolan Independence 2 mins read

On November 11th, 1975, Portugal officially granted independence to Angola, marking the formal end of nearly five centuries of Portuguese colonial rule in the Southern African nation. This pivotal moment was, however, overshadowed by a pre-existing and escalating internal conflict among various Angolan nationalist movements.

The Context of Independence

While the declaration of independence was a long-awaited triumph for the Angolan people, it did not usher in immediate peace or stability. Instead, the newly liberated state was plunged into a protracted civil war. Multiple armed nationalist forces, which had previously fought against Portuguese rule, were now fiercely contending among themselves to establish control over the sovereign nation. This power struggle set the stage for decades of conflict that significantly impacted Angola's development.

Key Aspects of Angola's Independence Day

The day of independence was characterized by both celebration and intense uncertainty, as the immediate future of Angola hung in the balance due to the ongoing internal strife.

Key Aspect Description (November 11, 1975)
Main Event Portugal formally granted independence to Angola, concluding 400 years of colonial administration.
Political Landscape Multiple prominent Angolan nationalist movements were actively fighting for control, leading to immediate post-independence conflict.
Immediate Outlook The country faced a deeply unstable transition, with the escalating power struggles evolving into a prolonged civil war.

Nationalist Forces and the Road Ahead

The primary factions vying for power included:

  • Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA): Largely supported by the Soviet Union and Cuba.
  • National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA): Backed by Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), the United States, and China.
  • National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA): Supported by South Africa and the United States.

The competing declarations of independence by these groups on or around November 11, 1975, underscored the fragmented and volatile political situation. The withdrawal of Portuguese authority left a power vacuum that these well-armed and ideologically diverse movements sought to fill, leading directly to the Angolan Civil War, which lasted until 2002.

For more detailed information on Angola's history and its path to independence, you can consult reputable historical resources such as the Encyclopædia Britannica on Angola.