biography
| name: |
Savimbi, Jonas (Malheiro)
|
pronunciation:
[savimbee]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1934–2002)
|
| biography:
| Soldier and politician, born in Munhango, Angola, the leader of the Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) since its formation in 1966. He studied at Lausanne University, moved to Lusaka, and was active in the struggle for independence from Portugal which developed into civil war (1961). He led the Popular Union of Angola, and was foreign minister of the government in exile (1962–4). UNITA fought against the Portuguese until 1974, but after independence under the Marxist President Neto, Savimbi instituted a civil war from bases close to the Namibian border, supported by South Africa, until negotiations brought the war to an end, allowing elections to be held in 1992. Fighting resumed after the election when the result was inconclusive. He was killed in combat in the country's eastern Moxico province. |
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