National Liberation Front of Angola facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids National Liberation Front of Angola Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola

Abbreviation	FNLA
President	Ngola Kabangu
Founder	Holden Roberto
Founded	1954 (as the União dos Povos do Norte de Angola guerrilla movement) 1959 (as the União dos Povos de Angola guerrilla movement) 1961 (as the FNLA guerrilla movement) 1992 (as a party)
Headquarters	Luanda, Republic of Angola
Youth wing	Youth of the National Liberation Front of Angola (JFLNA)
Women's wing	Angolan Women's Association (AMA)
Armed wing	National Liberation Army of Angola (ELNA) (until 1978)
Ideology	Civic nationalism Christian democracy Conservatism
Political position	Centre-right
Seats in the National Assembly	2 / 220
Party flag

The National Front for the Liberation of Angola (Portuguese: Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola), often called FNLA, is a political party in Angola. It was once a group that fought for Angola's freedom from Portugal. This happened during the Angolan War of Independence, and Holden Roberto led the group.

The FNLA started in 1954 as a group called the União dos Povos do Norte de Angola. It was a guerrilla movement, meaning it used small, surprise attacks. Later, in 1959, it became known as the União dos Povos de Angola (UPA). By 1961, it was officially called the FNLA.

Before Angola's first multi-party elections in 1992, the FNLA changed into a political party. In those elections, the FNLA got 2.4% of the votes. This meant five of its members became part of the Angolan Parliament. In the 2008 election, the FNLA received 1.11% of the votes and won three out of 220 seats.

History of the FNLA
Election Results
- Presidential Elections
- National Assembly Elections
See also

History of the FNLA

Early Beginnings

In 1954, a group called the United People of Northern Angola (UPNA) was formed. This group wanted the Bakongo tribe to have their own separate kingdom again. It also protested against forced labor. Holden Roberto was seen as a leader for this idea.

By 1958, the group changed its name to the "União das Populações de Angola" (UPA). Holden Roberto, who came from São Salvador in Northern Angola, led this group. In March 1961, the UPA started an uprising in the north. Many people died in the violence. The Portuguese government sent soldiers to Angola. By the end of 1961, over 50,000 people had died. More than a million people fled from northern Angola to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).

Forming the FNLA

To become a bigger national movement, the UPA joined with another group called the "Partido Democratico de Angola" (PDA). Together, they formed the "Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola" (FNLA). By February 1962, the FNLA became part of a larger group called the Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile (GRAE). Roberto was its President, and Jonas Savimbi was its foreign minister. This group was based in Kinshasa, Zaire. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) recognized GRAE as Angola's main freedom movement until 1971. Most of its members were Angolan refugees living in Zaire.

International Support

The United States government started helping the FNLA in 1961. They sent money and supplies through Zaire to the FNLA and another group called UNITA. Over the years, many countries supported the FNLA. These included Algeria, Tunisia, West Germany, Ghana, Israel, France, Romania, China, South Africa, the United States, Zaire, and Liberia.

For example, the French government provided people and loaned money. The Israeli government helped the FNLA between 1963 and 1969. Holden Roberto visited Israel, and FNLA members went there for training. In the 1970s, Israel sent weapons to the FNLA through Zaire. China also gave military equipment and advisers to the FNLA in 1974.

Changes in Leadership

By July 1964, the GRAE faced challenges. The Prime Minister of Congo, who supported them, resigned. Also, Jonas Savimbi left the group. He went on to form his own freedom movement, UNITA. This happened because Roberto was seen as too controlling and didn't have a clear political plan.

In June 1965, Roberto stopped an attempt by his defense minister to take over. In November of the same year, his brother-in-law, Mobutu Sese Seko, took control of Congo (Zaire). But by 1968, the GRAE started to fall apart.

US Policy Changes

When President Richard Nixon took office in 1969, he reviewed the United States' policy towards Angola. In 1970, a new plan was adopted. It suggested that white-led governments in southern Africa should not be completely cut off. This meant less aid for the FNLA.

Portugal's Shift

Training of F.N.L.A. soldiers in a camp in Zaire in 1973

In late 1972, the FNLA and another group called the MPLA agreed to a ceasefire. The FNLA needed more weapons because it wasn't getting much help from the US. The MPLA helped them get aid from China. From early 1973 to late 1974, the FNLA received military aid and training from China.

In April 1974, there was a military takeover in Portugal. The new government announced that its colonies, including Angola, would soon become independent. This led to more fighting among the FNLA, MPLA, and UNITA as they tried to gain control in Angola. The Romanian government also sent weapons to the FNLA in August 1974.

To stop the fighting, individual ceasefires were arranged. The FNLA signed one on October 15, 1974. This allowed the FNLA and other groups to open political offices in Luanda. By November 25, 1974, the FNLA and UNITA had a ceasefire. A ceasefire with the MPLA followed on December 18.

US Increases Secret Aid

When Gerald Ford became president in August 1974, the US changed its foreign policy. It decided to support black rule in Angola. By November 1974, the US didn't want the pro-Soviet MPLA to control the future government. So, the CIA secretly gave the FNLA $300,000 to help them.

The increasing violence led to a meeting in Mombasa, Kenya, in January 1975. President Jomo Kenyatta invited the FNLA and the other two parties to unite. Roberto said they had reached an agreement. They agreed to work together for a fair and democratic Angola. They also agreed to a temporary government and a united army.

The FNLA and other parties met in Portimao, Portugal, on January 10, 1975. This meeting led to the Alvor Agreement, signed on January 15, 1975. This agreement said Angola would become independent from Portugal on November 11, ending the war. The plan also called for a shared government and a single army.

Challenges for the New Government

Within 24 hours of the Alvor Agreement, fighting broke out in Luanda between the FNLA and MPLA. More violence happened on March 23. The temporary government struggled because the Portuguese government was busy with its own problems. Also, Portuguese soldiers didn't want to fight in Angola anymore.

The FNLA felt its only choice was to fight after being forced out of Luanda. On August 29, 1975, Portugal stopped the Alvor Agreement, except for the independence date and troop withdrawal. This meant more violence as groups fought for control of Angola before independence day.

The US government believed the MPLA would take power and set up a Soviet-backed government. In January 1975, a US government committee approved giving the FNLA $300,000. This money was for buying newspapers and radio stations. The US also sent weapons to Zaire, which then gave them to the FNLA. Several thousand troops were also supplied.

By June 1975, the CIA asked for more aid for the FNLA. After some discussion, Henry Kissinger made sure that more aid was approved. In July, $14 million was approved for the FNLA and UNITA. This increased to $25 million in August and $32 million by September. This help was called Operation IA Feature. The CIA sent supplies like armored vehicles, missiles, mortars, rifles, and ammunition. They also provided training by retired US military advisers and mercenaries (soldiers for hire).

South Africa's Involvement

The South African army entered Angola to protect its interests near a hydroelectric facility. This action grew into Operation Savannah. Its goal was to help the FNLA and UNITA gain control of southern and central Angola before independence day. The US seemed to approve of this secret invasion at first. But when South Africa's involvement became public, the US distanced itself. South African forces advanced from the south, while a small group of South African artillery and advisers supported the FNLA in the north.

Battle for Luanda

Roberto knew that if the FNLA didn't control Luanda on independence day, their international standing would be weak. The FNLA attacked Luanda from the north on November 5 and 8, 1975, but the MPLA pushed them back. With independence day on November 11, Roberto ordered a final attack on November 10. He didn't know that Cuban forces had strengthened the MPLA's positions with new Soviet equipment.

Roberto claimed South Africans were sending help, but the South Africans said they warned against a direct attack. Whatever the truth, the FNLA's final attack, known as the Battle of Quifangondo, failed badly. The MPLA kept control of Luanda. Angola gained independence from Portugal, and Neto declared the People's Republic of Angola. The FNLA continued fighting inside Angola for another four months.

US Aid Ends

On November 6, 1975, the CIA Director admitted to a US Senate committee that his organization had not fully informed them about its activities in Angola. The next day, The New York Times published this information. By November 26, Nigeria recognized the MPLA government, and soon convinced 22 other African nations to do the same.

In December, President Ford and Kissinger wanted to continue aid to the opposition parties. However, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee created the Clark Amendment, named after Senator Dick Clark. He visited Angola and concluded that the White House and CIA had not been truthful about their involvement. He believed the US effort had drawn Cubans and South Africans into the conflict. The US government could not convince the House or Senate to continue aid. On December 19, 1975, the Clark Amendment passed the Senate, ending secret US aid in Angola. The House followed suit on January 27, 1976.

FNLA Retreats

After the FNLA's defeat at Quifangondo, the MPLA and Cubans continued to advance in Northern Angola. They captured Caxito on December 27, 1975. The FNLA's main airbase at Camabatela was taken on January 1, and Negage on January 3. Their capital at Carmona fell on January 4. The FNLA began to retreat, looting villages as they headed for the Zairian border.

By early 1976, the FNLA was defeated by the MPLA. On January 11, 1976, the MPLA and Cubans captured Ambriz and Ambrizete from the FNLA. They then advanced on the FNLA's headquarters at São Salvador. This route was defended by foreign mercenaries led by Colonel Callan and some FNLA members. Colonel Callan committed harmful acts during the fighting, even against his own men. He was removed from his command, and mercenary support ended. São Salvador was captured on February 15, 1976.

The South Africans left Angola on March 27, 1976. This ended Operation Savannah. Some FNLA members who had fought with the South African army were reformed into 32 Battalion.

End of FNLA as a Military Force

On February 29, 1976, Angolan President Agostinho Neto and Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko signed an agreement. This agreement was supposed to end Angola's support for rebels in Zaire. In return, Zaire promised to remove the FNLA and UNITA from their bases in Zaire. However, this agreement did not last.

Another invasion of Zaire's Shaba Province in May 1978 by rebels based in eastern Angola marked the beginning of the end for the FNLA in Zaire. Presidents Neto and Mobutu met again in June 1978 and signed a new agreement. As a result, Holden Roberto was sent to Gabon by the Zairian President in November 1979. Some parts of the FNLA continued to fight after Roberto left. This group was called the FNLA-COMIRA (Angolan Military Resistance Committee), but it stopped existing by 1983.

Election Results

The FNLA has participated in presidential and national assembly elections in Angola.

Presidential Elections

Election	Party candidate	Votes	%	Result
1992	Holden Roberto	83,135	2.11%	Lost
2012	Ngola Kabangu	65,163	1.13%	Lost
2017		63,658	0.93%	Lost
2022		66,337	1.06%	Lost

National Assembly Elections

Election	Party leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Result
1992	Holden Roberto	94,742	2.40%	5 / 220	New	4th	Opposition
2008	Ngola Kabangu	71,416	1.11%	3 / 220	2	4th	Opposition
2012		65,163	1.13%	2 / 220	1	5th	Opposition
2017		63,658	0.93%	1 / 220	1	5th	Opposition
2022		66,337	1.06%	2 / 220	1	4th	Opposition