View source for National Union for the Total Independence of Angola

The [[National Union for the Total Independence of Angola]] ([[UNITA]]) is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the [[Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola]] (MPLA) in the Angolan War for Independence (1961–1975) and then against the MPLA in the ensuing Angolan Civil War (1975–2002).

The war was one of the most prominent Cold War proxy war's, with UNITA receiving military aid from the United States and South Africa while the MPLA received support from the Soviet Union and its allies.<ref>BBC News,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/264094.stm Obituary: Jonas Savimbi, Unita's local boy], ''BBC News'' 25-February-2002, Accessed 11-September-2009</ref>

From its foundation until his death in 2002, UNITA was led by [[Jonas Savimbi]]. His successor as President of UNITA is [[Isaías Samakuva]]. Following Savimbi's death, UNITA abandoned armed struggle and participated in electoral politics. The party won 16 out of 220 seats in the Angolan parliamentary election, 2008.

==PR==

[[Sean Cleary]] did PR work for [[Jonas Savimbi]] and [[UNITA]] through his firm [[Strategy Network International]].
According to The Independent [[Strategy Network International]] was specifically created to lobby against economic sanctions and as propagandist for Unita, the Angolan opposition group, and for the so-called 'transitional government' of Namibia set up in defiance of UN resolution 435 on Namibian independence<ref>PATRICIA WYNN DAVIES, RICHARD DOWDEN and JOHN CARLIN, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/the-attack-on-sleaze-how-apartheid-regime-set-out-to-woo-tories-patricia-wynn-davies-tells-the-story-of-the-firm-which-gave-mps-a-south-african-perspective-1444979.html The Attack on Sleaze: How apartheid regime set out to woo Tories: Patricia Wynn Davies tells the story of the firm which gave MPs a South African perspective], ''The Independent'', 26-October-1994, Accessed 11-September-2009</ref>.

==Foreign support==

UNITA received support from the governments of Bulgaria,<ref>Herbert M. (2004), Ambiguous Order: Military Forces In African States PP:81</ref>Egypt, France, Israel, Morocco, the People's Republic of China, North Korea (although North Korea later recognized the MPLA government), Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United States, Zaire,<ref>Beit-Hallahmi Benjamin, (1988), The Israeli Connection: Whom Israel Arms and Why, PP65</ref> and Zambia.<ref>AlʻAmin Mazrui Ali, (1977), The Warrior Tradition in Modern Africa, PP228</ref><ref>John Stockwell, [http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/issue43/articles/1975_angola.htm 1975, Angola:  Mercenaries, Murder and Corruption], Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade, 1991, Accessed 11-September-2009</ref>.

==Political Visits==

Unita funded a visit to Angola from [[Marion Roe]] for a week in June 1990. At the time she was Tory MP for Broxbourne<ref>PATRICIA WYNN DAVIES, RICHARD DOWDEN and JOHN CARLIN, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/the-attack-on-sleaze-how-apartheid-regime-set-out-to-woo-tories-patricia-wynn-davies-tells-the-story-of-the-firm-which-gave-mps-a-south-african-perspective-1444979.html The Attack on Sleaze: How apartheid regime set out to woo Tories: Patricia Wynn Davies tells the story of the firm which gave MPs a South African perspective], ''The Independent'', 26-October-1994, Accessed 03-October-2009</ref>.


==Affiliations==

[[Strategy Network International]]

==External links==
*[http://www.unitaangola.org/ UNITA official site]
*[http://www.unitaeleicoes.com/ UNITA campaign site]

==Notes==
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