How did the Cold War influence Angola's independence movement?

The Cold War significantly influenced Angola's independence movement by turning it into a proxy battleground for superpower rivalry.

The Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, had a profound impact on Angola's struggle for independence from Portuguese colonial rule. The two superpowers saw the decolonisation process in Africa as an opportunity to spread their respective ideologies and increase their global influence. Angola, rich in oil and strategically located, became a focal point of this rivalry.

The independence movement in Angola was not a unified front but was divided among three major groups: the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Each of these groups had different ethnic, regional, and ideological leanings, which made them attractive to different external backers. The MPLA, which was Marxist in orientation, received support from the Soviet Union and Cuba. On the other hand, the FNLA and UNITA, which were more conservative and anti-communist, were backed by the United States, China, and South Africa.

The involvement of these superpowers in Angola's independence movement escalated the conflict. Instead of a straightforward anti-colonial struggle, it became a protracted civil war that lasted for several decades, even after Angola achieved independence in 1975. The superpowers supplied their respective proxies with military aid, including weapons, training, and troops. This not only intensified the violence but also complicated the peace process.

Moreover, the Cold War dynamics also shaped the international response to Angola's independence movement. The United Nations, for instance, was unable to intervene effectively due to the veto power of the United States and the Soviet Union in the Security Council. Similarly, other countries were often hesitant to get involved, fearing that it would upset either of the superpowers.

In conclusion, the Cold War had a significant influence on Angola's independence movement. It turned a national liberation struggle into a proxy war, exacerbated the conflict, and hindered international efforts to resolve it.