Impact of Cuban Intervention in Ethiopia & Angola

Question 1

How did Angola descend into a civil war?

Answer 1

Gained independence from Portugal 1975 and descended into rival factions
-MPLA (supported by USSR and Cuba)
-UNITA (supported by USA and South Africa)
-FNLA (supported by Zaire (Congo) and USA)

Question 2

Why did Cuba intervene in Angola?

Answer 2

-Ideological reasons
-International solidarity
-Strategic alignment

Question 3

How did Cuba intervene in Angola?

Answer 3

-Late 1975 launched Operation Carlota, sending thousands of troops to Angola
-Fought alongside MPLA and South African troops
-At peak there were 50,000 Cuban troops

Question 4

Who was the USA covertly supplying military assistance to in Angola?

Answer 4

FNLA due to the escalation of Cuban military aid the the connections of the USSR

Question 5

Why were the USA backing the FNLA?

Answer 5

‘Because the Soviets are backing the MPLA’ - William Colby (Director of Central Intelligence)

Question 6

What was the Soviet’s priority with Angola in 1974?

Answer 6

Ensure that China didn’t gain at the USSR’s expense in Angola

Question 7

How did conflict between Ethiopia and the future country of Somalia start?

Answer 7

Britain in the aftermath of WW2 awarded the traditionally Somali territory of Ogaden to Ethiopia

Question 8

When did Somalia invade Ogaden?

Answer 8

July 1977

Question 9

Who did the USSR and Cuba support in Ethiopia?

Answer 9

Initially supporting Somali government
-Withdrew support and sent troops to Ethiopia

Question 10

How did conflict in Ethiopia end?

Answer 10

March 1978 Somali troops retreated and a truce was announced

Question 11

What did the USA accuse the USSR of doing in Ethiopia?

Answer 11

Using Cuba to extend its own power in Africa