Jonas Savimbi

Jonas Malheiro Savimbi (1934 - 2002) was born in the province from Bié, resulting from the ethnos group Ovimbundu. He is the principal founder of the political movement and military Angolan, the National union for the total independence of Angola (UNITA), creates at the origin in 1966 to release the Angola of the domination Portuguese colonialist. It will be called, galo negro , the black cock.

The committed student

His/her father was Pasteur evangelist working for the company of railroad of Angola to the hands of the Portuguese colonists. Student, Savimbi profits in 1960 from a grant in medicine with Lisbon. Then, he studies political sciences in Suisse, with the Université of Lausanne, where he obtains his license in 1965. Taking into account the political situation of its country, it leaves in China to study the techniques of guerilla.

The political and military tactician (1965-1975)

After having received a political training and soldier in the Communist China of Mao Zedong, it militates within the Front National of Libération of Angola (FNLA) of Holden Roberto, then it bases the UNITA on its return in Angola, direct competitor on the Angolan political scene of the Movement for the popular release of Angola (MPLA) of inspiration Marxiste.

It signs an agreement with the Portuguese party with the capacity to fight against the opposing party, the MPLA.

In 1974, the Révolution of the eyelets to the Portugal carries to the capacity the Mouvement of the armed forces (MFA) by reversing the dictatorship of Marcelo Caetano. The captains of the Portuguese army to the head of this movement restore the Démocratie and start the movement of Décolonisation striking the European powers including Portugal. They name Mr. Antonio de Alva Rosa Coutinho with the head of the transition government towards independence.

The November 11th 1975, the independence of Angola is proclaimed, the capacity is then transferred to the MPLA. A government pro-Communist helped by the Soviet Union, Cuba and the Nicaragua Sandinista settles in Angola. Jonas Savimbi and its movement the UNITA start true a Civil war directed against the MFA and the MPLA, from now on allied. They will be constant in its spot by the the United States, Israel, the South Africa, the Togo, the Zaire, the Zambia and the Ivory Coast. Armies of Savimbi, which enlists women and children will undermine almost all the interior of the country to stop the projection of MPLA.Ces operations of guerilla will be also financed by a diamond traffic ( blood diamonds ).

The eternal rebels

In 1979, the Angolan rebel installs his seat with Jamba, a city created by the UNITA in the South-east of the Angola. Pitiless, it burned alive his/her companions in dissension with him.

In 1991, an peace agreement is signed (the Accords of Bicesse - Portugal) between the 2 movements.

After having disputed the results of the elections giving the victory to the MPLA, Savimbi breaks peace and turns over in the maquis in 1992. It seizes Huambo, the second city of the country, and in fact its stronghold. During this time its troops control the provinces of North.

In November 1994, it loses Huambo and the capitals of the provinces of North.

In a context of end and cold war and mode of Apartheid in South Africa, it loses the support of the two leading vendors of weapons of his rebellion.

It is killed by the army Angola ise the February 22nd 2002.

Its colossal fortune (several million dollars) would have been distributed between Henri Konan Bédié, Eyadema and Hassan II

Quotations

"Only elections, free elections, under the aegis of the OAU can provide a solution. However, initially there will have to be a short period of transition government in which the two edges will be represented. But at the end, ballot paper must decide, not the balles." (December 12th, 1975)
" I am not communist because that does not have any direction. I am not either capitalist. Socialism in this country is the only answer. Those which led the country to independence cannot become the exploiteurs of the people. We want a system socialist, but which? It there with orthodoxe and the extremist. We want the democratic one, social the démocratie."

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