EXTERNAL INVOLVEMENT WITH ANGOLA'S INSURGENTS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005515532
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: August 19, 2010
• Case Number: F-2007-01213
• Publication Date: November 15, 1978

APPROVED FOR
RELEASE^ DATE:
21 -Jun-201 0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
NATIONAL FOREIGN ASSESSMENT CENTER
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Jonas Savimbi's leadership of the National Union for
the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) has kept in the
field a force that numbers approximately 18,000 guerrillas.
UNITA, the only serious insurgent threat to Angolan President
Neto, moves freely within and is supported by the inhabitants
of an area of southern Angola that is roughly between a
third and a half of the country's territory.
UNITA has demonstrated the ability to survive
Angolan/Cuban offensives against it.and the insurgents
should be able to continue denying southern Angola to
Luanda's control. UNITA will not be successful in expanding
its territory, but will continue to harrass the central
government by various means. Continued attacks on the Benguela
Railroad is one example.
 External assistance to UNITA comes from a variety of
sources and may be decreasing. Such aid is important but
not critical to the insurgent's ability to sustain the
pressure on the Luanda overnment.
Zambian President Kaunda is an old supporter of
Savimbi, as are the West African moderates Senghor and
Houphouet-Boigny, but they probably do not provide material
assistance to UNITA. Savimbi would look to these and other
moderate African states for transit rights in'the event an
alternate supply route were needed.
 FNLA and FLEC
Neither the National Front for the Liberation of Angola
(FLNA) nor the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of
Cabinda (FLEC) poses a serious threat to the Neto government.
Both groups suffer from ineffective leadership, a lack
of arms and ammunition, and FLEC has had serious internal
problems. While both groups continue to tie-down Cuban
and Angolan forces, they are unable to engage in large-
scale military confrontations.
The FNLA has 2,000 to 4,000 combatants operating
mainly within the area of the Bakongo tribe in northern
Angola from which it draws its major followin
Some FNLA leaders reside in Zaire but
Zairian President Mobutu claims that his government is no
longer assisting the rebels.
Representatives of FLEC's estimated 1,000-man force
maintain that they have received no foreign assistance
over the past two years. While we have no evidence to
disprove this, the insurgents could be receiving some limited
assistance FLEC recently
has attempted to reorganize into a more effective military
force, but this has not yet been reflected in the insurgents'
anti-government activity.