480 Chapter 4
540 Angola/552 Zimbabwe
MID#3002
Dispute Number: 3002
Date(s): February 26, 1979
Participants: 552 Zimbabwe/540 Angola
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Rhodesian bombers attacked a guerrilla training camp in Angola. Angola
pledged that it would “continue to give unconditional support to the Zimbabwe free-
dom fighters until the final defeat of the hateful regime of [Rhodesian Prime Minister]
Ian Smith.”
540 Angola/560 South Africa
MID#1441
Dispute Number: 1441
Date(s): August 22, 1975 to August 30, 1988
Participants: 490 Democratic Republic of the Congo, 541 Mozambique, 551 Zambia,
560 South Africa/40 Cuba, 540 Angola
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: Warring parties in Angola were divided between pro-Western and Com-
munist factions. In August 1975, Cuba began to send troops and equipment to assist the
People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) faction. The South African
army then began intervening in the conflict shortly after Cuba, on September 24, when
an officer was sent to help halt an MPLA advance on Huambo. Zambia made a brief
entrance into the dispute in 1976, when President Kaunda stated to his people on Janu-
ary 28, 1976, that the country was “at war.” Zambia’s presence in the conflict on the side
of South Africa was short-lived, however, as the country restored relations with Angola
the following September. Zaire’s involvement in the conflict was announced in Decem-
ber when reports confirmed that the country had 11,200 troops in Angola, assisting the
pro-Western factions. Zaire and Angola began to improve relations in early 1978. The
civil conflict continued, as did the dispute between Angola and Cuba on one side and
South Africa on the other. Peace talks began in July 1988, and South Africa began with-
drawing its troops on August 10 and completed the withdrawal by the end of the month.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 1975. Outcome changed from
Unclear. Settlement changed from None. Fatalities changed from Missing. Added to
dispute: 541 Mozambique.
MID#2150
Started in March 1977. See the narrative in the 490 Democratic Republic of the
Congo/540 Angola dyad dispute list.