Treaty between the USSR and the People’s Democratic Republic of YemenFor the People’s Republic of Mozambique:
[Signed]
SAMORA MOISÉS MACHEL
President of the FRELIMO Party and President of the
People’s Republic of Mozambique
4.1410 Defense Pact between Angola and Zam-
bia
Alliance Members:Angola and Zambia
Signed On:May 10, 1979, in the city of Ndola (Zambia). In force until
March 15, 1999.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Keesing’s Record of World Events,May 1979.
SUMMARY
As Angola was becoming an independent nation, three competing
movements formed, each aiming to determine the direction of the
country. The first was the People’s Movement for the Liberation of
Angola (MPLA). The other two groups, the National Front for the
Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and the National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (UNITA), formed later—the FNLA had
evolved from an earlier group by the late 1950s and UNITA formed in
- Following independence from Portugal in 1975, the MPLA
fought against the FNLA and UNITA. After years of fighting, the
MPLA finally took power in 1975 under the socialist leadership of
Agostinho Neto. In response, the FNLA and UNITA proclaimed their
own nation of the Democratic Republic of Angola based in Huambo.
For many years UNITA mounted a civil war against Angola with the
aid and support of South Africa.
Zambia, another former Portuguese colony, also had trouble with
insurgents who were backed principally by South Africa. As a result of
their converging security interests, Zambia and Angola formed this
alliance to fight the cross-border insurgency movements.
On March 15, 1999, relations between Angola and Zambia soured as
Angola declared itself in possession of evidence that Zambia was sup-
porting UNITA rebels. Zambia responded by accusing Angola of
engaging UNITA rebels on Zambian soil. The alliance ended, and their
conflict became the flash point for an increasing number of border
outbursts. In recent years, the two nations have managed to slowly
improve relations to the point of stability.
Description of Terms
The agreement signed by President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia
and President Agostinho Neto of Angola proclaimed that the
two nations would treat an act of aggression against the other
country as an act of aggression against themselves. They also
agreed to set up a joint security force to respond to any threats
from South Africa or Rhodesia.
4.1411 Non-Aggression Pact among Angola,
Zaire, and Zambia
Alliance Members:Angola, Zaire, and Zambia
Signed On:October 12, 1979, in the city of Ndola (Zambia). In force
until December 1, 1996.
Alliance Type:Non-Aggression Pact (Type II)
Source:Keesing’s Record of World Events,October 1979.SUMMARY
This treaty was an attempt by the fledgling African governments to
put an end to the many insurgencies targeting their regimes. These
groups included the African rebel organizations of the FNLA
(National Front for the Liberation of Angola), UNITA (National
Union for the Total Independence of Angola), and the FNLC (Front
for the National Liberation of the Congo), and also the Cuban troops
that had invaded Zaire from Angola during 1978 and 1979.
The agreement held together, for the most part, until Angola began
actively aiding groups targeting the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (formerly Zaire). The invasion of the DRC by most of southern
Africa in the First Congo War soon followed.Description of Terms
The allies agreed that their territories would not be used as stag-
ing grounds for subversive activities or any attack directed
against the other parties to the agreement. Also signed on the
same day was a commitment to strengthen economic coopera-
tion between the signatories, especially in the areas of trans-
portation and communication.4.1412 Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation
between the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics and the People’s Democratic Repub-
lic of Yemen
Alliance Members:Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Peo-
ple’s Democratic Republic of Yemen
Signed On:October 25, 1979, in the city of Moscow. In force until
December 25, 1991.
Alliance Type:Entente (Type III)
Source:United Nations Treaty,no. 18907.SUMMARY
In 1979 South Yemen signed a twenty-year treaty of friendship and co-
operation with the USSR that allowed the Soviets to station troops
within the country, specifically in Aden and nearby Socotra Island.
This agreement was coupled with Soviet attempts to woo North
Yemen (the Yemen Arab Republic) with military aid shipments that
began arriving during the same month as the signing of this treaty.
North Yemen demonstrated its gratitude to the Soviets by refusing to
join other Arab states in a United Nations vote condemning the Soviet
invasion of Afghanistan.
Soviet interest in both North and South Yemen made sense given
Yemen’s proximity to the oil-rich territories on the Saudi peninsula