Cuban soldiers in Africa
Al Arabiya.net – Taha Abdel Nasser Ramadan
Posted on: August 03, 2023: 12:04 PM GST Last updated: August 03, 2023: 01:05 PM GST
After gaining independence in the years following the end of World War II, African countries found themselves in the cycle of the Cold War that pitted the United States of America and its Western allies against the Soviet Union, which was supported by the countries of the eastern camp.
In the midst of this new conflict, African countries lived through bloody coups and civil wars.
The most prominent of these civil wars came in the former Belgian colony of the Congo, where the country lived during the sixties, after independence, on the impact of a civil war that led to the deaths of more than 100,000 people.
On the other hand, this eligibility witnessed in 1961 the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, classified as one of the heroes of independence.
And the wars of US-Soviet influence in the African continent extended to include the state of Angola. Following its independence from Portugal in 1975, the country plunged into a grinding civil war that saw Cuba send tens of thousands of its troops to the region.
36 thousand Cuban soldiers
With its independence in 1975, Angola turned into a battlefield between the eastern and western camps. With this civil war, the United States and South Africa turned to providing significant support to the forces of UNITA and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola. On the other hand, the countries of the eastern camp, led by the Soviet Union, supported the soldiers of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, which some called the Angolan Workers’ Party.
Cuban soldiers with a number of Angolan troops in the civil war
In the midst of this civil war, Cuban leader Fidel Castro strangely agreed to send his country’s forces to Angola, as part of Operation Carlota, to support the communist forces of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola. Since the end of November 1975, Cuban soldiers have been disembarking on Angolan territory. At the end of 1975, the number of troops sent by Havana to Angola was estimated at more than 25,000. The following year, that number rose to 36,000.
the scourge of guerrilla warfare
With the beginning of their intervention, the Cuban forces were able to repel the joint advance of the armies of South Africa, Zaire, and the forces of the National Front for the Liberation of Angola and UNITA. On the other hand, the Cuban forces, backed by the Soviets, contributed directly to the defeat of the National Front for the Liberation of Angola soldiers in the north of the country, and UNITA Corps inflicted heavy losses in the south. Thanks to this, the balance of power in the country shifted in favor of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Angola. Also, Cuban soldiers fought against Angola’s separatist movements. In the midst of the Angolan Civil War, the Cubans defeated the forces of the Front for the Liberation of Cabinda.
Photo by Patrice Lumumba
And when the South African and Zaire forces withdrew, Cuban soldiers lived on the impact of hardships on the many fronts in Angola.
For the next decade, Cuban forces endured lightning strikes on their positions by South African forces and had to endure the ravages of guerrilla warfare led by UNITA Corps.
Heavy losses and withdrawal of troops
By 1988, the number of Cuban troops in Angola had increased to about 55,000.
Cuban soldiers with a number of Angolan troops in the civil war
The Cubans then helped save their communist allies from a military catastrophe during their attack on UNITA Corps. On the other hand, Cuban soldiers participated in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, classified as the largest battle of the Angolan Civil War, which ended with the defeat of UNITA forces supported by South Africa.
It is noteworthy that these military results greatly affected the negotiations that resulted in the signing of the New York Convention in 1988.
With this agreement, Namibia became independent from South Africa. Simultaneously, both Cuba and South Africa accepted the withdrawal of their forces from Angolan territory. And in 1991, Cuba officially ended the presence of its troops on Angolan territory. Throughout its participation in the Angolan Civil War, Cuba lost more than 10,000 soldiers killed, wounded and missing.
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2023-08-03 09:05:00
