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- U.S./Soviet Interventions in Africa, 1960s–1990s
began to dwindle as its attention shifted elsewhere, partic- ularly to neighboring Angola. As early as 1961, the Soviet Union began establishing tentative ties with Agostinho Neto and the Popular Move- ment for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and supported Neto in his struggle against Portuguese colonial rule. Dur- ing Neto’s struggle against South African troops in the early 1970s, the United States supported the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Soviet support in Angola remained minimal until the Portuguese revolution of 1974, which brought an end to its African empire. The Soviet Union also seemed increasingly will- ing to take advantage of the American retreat in Vietnam and U.S. congressional demands for an end to the covert aid program being conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Angola. With Soviet military aid and Cuban troops, Neto won control of the capital of Luanda and became president in 1975. Even though civil war con- tinued, he set about building a socialist government. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Soviet Union was pro- viding the Neto regime with nearly $200 million a year in military aid. Soviet success in Angola spurred Premier Leonid Brezhnev to additional involvement in the Horn of Africa. In 1974 the overthrow of Haile Selassie’s monarchy in Ethiopia by the socialist junta led by Mengistu Haile Mariam opened the door for Soviet influence there as well. As Soviet rela- tions with Ethiopia improved, those with neighboring Somalia worsened. In 1977 Somalia abrogated its treaty of friendship with the Soviet Union, closed the naval base at Berbera, and formed an alliance with the United States, which had only recently terminated its aid program to socialist Ethiopia. With this abrupt change, a border war between Ethiopia and Somalia broke out over the region of Ogaden. Soviet aid flooded Ethiopia, reaching well over $2 billion by 1982, and Somali forces were driven from Ogaden. Yet Soviet policy always contained a degree of caution, and it thus remained silent on Ethiopian efforts to subjugate Eritrea. Intervention in southern Africa was not as direct but was nonetheless important for Soviet foreign and strategic policy on the continent. Aid to the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) in Mozambique and the socialist government of Samora Machel provided a base from which to attack white supremacists in Rhodesia and South Africa. Soviet assistance to Joshua Nkomo’s Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) was not very effective, as the rival Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) loosely allied itself with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In allied states such as Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania, the Soviet Union helped to arm and train sol- diers from the African National Congress (ANC) and the Southwest African Africa, Soviet Interventions in 75 Soviet and Eastern bloc military advisors in Angola, 1 April 1983. (U.S. Department of Defense) People Organization (SWAPO). While Soviet military aid was substantial, it was not sufficient to prevent counterrevolutionary movements in the region. Both American and Soviet interventions in Africa during the Cold War gave many African leaders the opportunity to find outside support and, for a time, boosted Africa’s international stature. Soviet relations with African states usually began with economic and cultural agreements and then were followed by military aid to bolster friendly leaders in important states. In return, the Soviet Union sometimes asked for maritime agreements to increase its fleet presence and urged African governments to take a socialist orientation. When Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985, African intervention was no longer a priority, as Moscow turned its atten- tion to mending its own ailing economy. Soviet and American intervention in Africa increased the number of arms on the continent, as each side continued to support strong men who would defend their interests and influence in the region. At their height, arms transfers to Africa probably reached $4 billion per year. Lise Namikas
Africa; Africa, U.S. Interventions in; Congo, Democratic Republic of the; Congo, Republic of the; Ethiopia; Mozambique; Namibia; Somalia; Tanzania
Rohenberg, Morris. The USSR and Africa. Miami: Advanced International Studies Institute, 1980. Somerville, Keith. Southern Africa and the Soviet Union. New York: Macmillan, 1993. 76 Africa, Soviet Interventions in U.S./Soviet Interventions in Africa, 1960s–1990s Intervention Intervention Years of in by Intervention Result of Intervention Angola
Soviet Union 1961–1980s Agostinho Neto became president of Angola in 1975 Mozambique Soviet Union 1962–1980s Aid to the socialist regime of Samora Machel provided a base from which to attack white supremacists in Rhodesia and South Africa Zimbabwe
Soviet Union 1971–1980s Aid to Joshua Nkomo’s Zimbabwe African People’s Union did not prevent Zimbabwe’s alliance with the People’s Republic of China Zimbabwe United States 1975–1979 Unsuccessfully covertly aided the white Rhodesian regime Angola
United States 1975–1980s Tried to prevent the pro-Soviet Popular Movement for the Independence of Angola from coming to power Ethiopia
Soviet Union 1977–1982 Somali forces were driven from Ogaden Mozambique United States 1979–1990 Supported anticommunist group RENAMO in guerrilla raids against the existing infrastructure
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