Involvement of South African Defense Forces in South East Angola 1966-1974: A Counterinsurgency Study

By Miguel Junior

This analysis of the involvement of the South African Defence Force in the counterinsurgency campaign led by the armed forces of Portugal aims to identify the nature of the engagement and to see what lessons can be drawn from the point of view of counterinsurgency warfare.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Dec 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728396613

Miguel Junior

Miguel Junior is a general officer of the Angolan Armed Forces and military historian. He is author of several works and has published articles on defense, security and history.

Book preview

© 2020 Miguel Junior. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/09/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-9660-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-9661-3 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Abstract

Acronyms

Thanks

Introduction

Chapter I   Counterinsurgency and Current Trends

1.1 The Origins and Evolution of Guerrilla War

1.2 The Rise and Evolution of Counterinsurgency

1.3 Current Counterinsurgency Trends

Chapter II   The Struggle for National Liberation in Angola (1961–74)

2.1 The Beginning of the Struggle for National Liberation (1961)

2.2 The Liberation Struggle (1961–1964)

2.3 The Spread of the National Liberation Struggle (1965–1970)

Chapter III   The Portuguese Counterinsurgency in Angola (1961–1974)

3. The Containment of Subversive Actions (1961–1966)

3.1 Military Challenges in the East (1966–1970)

3.2 The War in the East and How It Evolved (1971–1974)

Chapter IV   The South African Involvement in the Southeast of Angola (1966–1974)

4.1 Portuguese and South African Cooperation (1961–1974)

4.2 The Involvement of the South African Defence Force (1966 – 1974)

4.3 The Consequences of Military Involvement (1970–1974)

Conclusions

Bibliography

ABSTRACT

41746.png

In the context of the struggles for national liberation, the liberation movements of Angola began their armed struggle in 1961. The outbreak of armed struggle led to counterinsurgency measures by the Portuguese armed forces. In their efforts to fight against the liberation movements, Portugal was aided by South Africa. The South African Defence Force engaged in counterinsurgency operations that the armed forces of Portugal unleashed against the liberation movements of Angola (MPLA, FNLA, and UNITA) in the period from 1966 to 1974. At the same time the involvement of the South African Defence Force led the fight against SWAPO, as this organization used the territory of Angola to infiltrate South- West Africa. Moreover, the participation of South Africa in the war effort against the liberation movements in Angola was part of an early defence to prevent a number of situations in South West Africa and in South Africa.

This analysis of the involvement of the South African Defence Force in the counterinsurgency campaign led by the armed forces of Portugal aims to identify the nature of the engagement and to see what lessons can be drawn from the point of view of counterinsurgency warfare.

Keywords: liberation struggle, counterinsurgency, liberation movements, Angola, Portugal, South Africa, South-West Africa, MPLA, FNLA, UNITA, and SWAPO.

ACRONYMS

41746.png

ALCORA – Concept for Southern Africa

ANC – African National Congress

CANU – Caprive African National Union

CCAA – Joint Air Support Center

CONCP – Conference of Nationalist Organizations of the Portuguese Colonies

DDA –Department of Defense Archives

EPLA – People’s Army for the Liberation of Angola

FALA – Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola

FNLA – National Front for the Liberation of Angola

GRAE – Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile

MPLA – Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola

OUA – Organization of African Unity

PLAN – People’s Liberation Army of Namibia

UNITA – National Union for the Total Independence of Angola

UPA – Union of the Populations of Angola

SANDC – South African National Documentation Center

SWAPO – South-West Africa People’s Organization

RENAMO – Mozambican National Resistance

THANKS

41746.png

This book is the result of my work as a doctoral student in the Atlântica Internacional University. However, my research on this subject began in 2010 under a broader program on the war in Angola and Southern Africa. Since part of the object of the research involves military bias associated with the guerrilla wars and counterinsurgency, I decided to use it for this scientific research work, whose research plan was entered and accepted by the Atlântica Internacional University. After a series of efforts, we have put it all together, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to it.

The years I spent studying at the Atlântica Internacional University were very rewarding in the sense that I was able to work in an innovative long-distance environment with the enriched seminars and interaction that it allowed. Everything I learned through this experience enriched me, so I would like to thank the Atlântica Internacional University and specially my advisor Professor Joseph Tavares and my tutor Dr Renata da Silva for all the support and attention that they provided throughout the course.

I would like to extend my thanks the Angolan government for their support and the South Africa National Documentation Centre (SANDC) Department of Defense Archives (DDA) staff, whose assistance enabled me to identify primary sources linked to this subject, as well as Brigadier-General Willem S. Van der Waals (retired), Henry William Short (retired), and Professor Doutor Antonio Telo for the information and sources they put at my disposal.

Furthermore, I would like to thank the Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Defense and the Chancellery of Angola Defense in South Africa (2010–2013) for their openness and assistance and all those who helped me in this endeavor. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their undying support and understanding.

INTRODUCTION

41746.png

After the Second World War, the African colonization process reached a different momentum that culminated in the independence of several peoples. Despite this wave of independence, some African peoples remained under colonial power and South Africa was still plagued by apartheid. For this reason, the liberation movements of these peoples took up arms and set off armed struggles.

In Angola the armed struggle was felt in the north and east, and it covered part of the area that borders the former South-West Africa. Since the armed conflict represented a military threat, Portugal engaged in counterinsurgency actions in Angola.

Given this situation, South Africa joined forces with Portugal to stop the guerrilla warfare and liberation movements in Angola and South-West Africa. The subject of this research is the military involvement of South Africa in Angola from 1966 to 1974 in the context of the counterinsurgency campaign of the Portuguese armed forces. Thus, the main purpose of this work is to