ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the situation in terms of the environment, popular support, organization, external support, and the Movimento Popular de Libertacao de Angola (MPLA) response. In Angola, however, the process was complicated by rival claims to power on the part of the MPLA, Frente Nacional de Libertacao de Angola and Uniao Nacional para Independencia Total de Angola, none of which commanded sufficient popular support to legitimately represent all the Angolan people. The MPLA, originally an urban-based political party, had the capital city of Luanda and what levers of power still existed. The MPLA, formerly under the leadership of Agostinho Neto, is in power, Cuban troops and Soviet supplies are the backbone of the MPLA army and the counterinsurgency effort. However, the difficult terrain and lack of roads have rendered useless the most efficient weapon used by the MPLA/Cuban forces in the civil war-Soviet 122mm rockets.
