Operation Savannah (Angola) - Background

Background

After a struggle of 14 years, aided by the so-called "Carnation Revolution" of 25 April 1974 which ended Portugal's dictatorial colonial government, Angola's three main liberation forces, FNLA, UNITA and the leftist MPLA began competing for dominance in the country. Fighting began in November 1974, starting in the capital city, Luanda, and spreading quickly across all of Angola, which was soon divided among the combatants. The FNLA occupied northern Angola and UNITA the central south, while The MPLA mostly occupied the coastline, the far south-east and, after capturing it in November 1974, Cabinda. Negotiations for independence resulted in the Treaty of Alvor being signed on 15 January 1975, naming the date of official independence as 11 November 1975. The agreement ended the war for independence but marked the escalation of the civil war. Two dissenting groups, the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda and the Eastern Revolt, never signed the accords, as they were excluded from negotiations. The coalition government established by the Treaty of Alvor soon ended as nationalist factions, doubting one another's intentions, tried to control the country by force. Fighting between the three forces resumed in Luanda hardly a day after the transitional government assumed office on 15 January 1975. .

The liberation forces sought to seize strategic points, most importantly the capital, by the official day of independence. By March 1975, the FNLA was driving towards Luanda from the north, joined by units of the Zairian army which the United States had encouraged Zaire's dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, to provide. Between 28 April and early May, 1,200 Zairian troops crossed into northern Angola to assist the FNL. The FNLA eliminated all remaining MPLA presence in the northern provinces and assumed positions east of Kifangondo at the eastern outskirts of Luanda, from where it continued to encroach on the capital. The situation for the MPLA in Luanda became increasingly precarious.

The MPLA received supplies from the Soviet Union and repeatedly requested 100 officers for military training from Cuba. Until late August, Cuba had a few technical advisors in Angola, which the CIA noted. By 9 July, the MPLA gained control of the capital, Luanda.

Starting 21 August, Cuba established four training facilities (CIR) with almost 500 men, which were to form about 4,800 FAPLA recruits in three to six months. The mission was expected to be short-term and to endure about 6 months. The CIR in Cabinda accounted for almost half of the total, 191 men, while the ones at Benguela, Saurimo (formerly Henrique de Carvalho) and at N'Dalatando (formerly Salazar) had 66 or 67 each. Some were posted in headquarters in Luanda or in other places throughout the country. The training centres were operational on 18–20 October.