Jonas Savimbi: The Notorious Angolan Rebel Leader of Unita | African Biographics

On February 22 2002, Soldiers of the Angolan Armed Forces, assisted by Israeli surveillance experts caught up with Jonas Savimbi and killed him in the province of Moxico in central eastern Angola. Savimbi’s death marked the end of the 27 year long Angolan Civil War in which at least half a million people died in the conflict for the vast, diamond and oil-rich Southern African nation.

Jonas Savimbi, who has been described as one of the most charismatic rebels on the continent, had spent more than 35 years in the bush battling first for Angolan independence and then later for personal power. Some senior officials in Ronald Regan’s administration he was touted as being “one of the most talented charismatic of leaders in modern African history.”

However some people saw him as a stooge of capitalism and a plaything of the racist apartheid government. In this episode of African Biographics, we look at the life story of Jonas Savimbi, the Angolan rebel leader of UNITA.

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TIMESTAMPS:

INTRO: 0:00

EARLY LIFE: 01:09

JOINS POLITICS: 03:42

FORMS UNITA: 05:47

ANGOLAN INDEPENDENCE: 07:36

ANGOLAN CIVIL WAR: 08:50

CIVIL WAR HEIGHTENS: 11:50

RELATIONSHIP WITH USA: 12:42

WAR CALMS DOWN: 14:05

FIGHTING RESUMES: 15:44

DEATH AND LEGACY: 18:07

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Sources:

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Music:

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License



#JonasSavimbi #Angola

[AfricanBiographics]

Take a shot everytime I mispronounce "Moxico" :-( . To my Angolan friends, I will do better next time. I promise :-) .

[ShottaKenya]

I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t know about Savimbi until I saw him in Call of Duty game. I was shocked to learn he was real. That’s what started my descent into the black hole that is modern African history.

[dictatorofcanada]

Many people here do not seem to understand the word “rebel”, people seem to think calling him a rebel implies judgment of his cause, which it does not. A “rebel” simply means you are taking up arms against an established government, which is what Savimbi did. Rebels can be heroes or villains.

I had the honor of fighting with Savimbi, supporting unita in Angola in the 80, s. He was a real leader, always in front with the soldiers. Sulute and respect Dr Savimbi.

[galmpixy]

Our journey to victory has begun
DEATH TO THE MPLA
-Jonas Savimbi

[vincenorman]

I had the honor of flying Savimbi from Lusaka Zambia to Villa Luso Angola after a meeting with Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. One of the most charming gentleman I ever met. Invited us all to lunch but alas we had to return to Lusaka. Missed opportunity.

[ShottaKenya]

I love hearing modern African history from an African! Please look into some of the lesser known/documented East African figures

[_CrissoN]

He even had that customary "African founding father" black leather jacket in the 60s. Great video.

[Jay-Leigh]

Jonas Savimbi was not "notorious" or evil or any of the rubbish spoken about him today. I had the pleasure of being part of the crew that flew him to a few places in Angola in the campaign leading to the UN supervised yet extremely corrupt elections in the early 90s. Savimbi was one of those truly great people who made you feel you were the great person! On landing in Huambo, his hometown and first time in about 20 years he was back there and with a huge crowd waiting for him, he took the time to come to thd cockpit and personally thank the crew. The world could use more men of his stature.

[adonai]

I followed the Angola story from 1965 when as a primary school boy and reading the African Challenge Magazine. Jonas Savimbi appears to have started a libration cause but with hidden motive which was to become a president by any means and started the double standard game for support. My sympathy to the amputees. In 1989-1990 whilst in Rundu in Namibia and particular along the Okavango Delta, I observed through my telescope scars of war in Southern Angola. The waste of human capital was my pain. As veteran peacekeeper, I want to say this that "No weapon wins war, it only protects war lords but it is the tongue which silences the weapons of war". Africa Stop the unnecessary destruction of Human Capital in the name of so call civil wars. Let's channel those energies into economic growth.

[lukaschiwenu]

I loved Savimbi from childhood he inspired me to join the army. I remember between 1989 and 1993 thousands of MPLA soldiers running away from the war being transported from Zambezi to Lusaka and flying back to Angola. That time MPLA almost lost the way

[cleraldo]

Savimbi the day he died war stopped. Shows how much influence people have.

[xeddiem]

I didn't know that this channel existed, full of our rich Aftican history. Thanks YouTube for suggesting this channel for me.

[ncumisagarishe]

Charisma infused with being misunderstood/hated ...
Having a noble cause being not mutually exclusive with bad intentions ...
this is what I always depict when it comes to proclaimed great African leaders in history thus far

[Fifi-qlzc]

Hello from South Africa! Thanks for all you do!

[chongomukupa]

Excellent material, I am just wishing for more!! I am Zambian and I really revere our first President Dr.Kenneth Kaunda and I strongly believe a lot of informative and educative information has not been published or spoken to explain the intricacies of the liberation struggles and civil wars of Southern Africa! When that is done and cemented into a syllabus for "Modern history of Southern Africa", we shall rekindle the spirit of Pan-Africanism which will enhance regional and continental integration!!

[DanielAswani]

I am surprised to learn that Tom Mboya, the then Kenyan trade unionist, helped inspire Savimbi. Savimbi, and indeed, the Angola Civil war was on the news here in Kenya in 90s. Savimbi is a popular name here.

[lifeofachristiannursingstu]

As an Angolan I can say that Savimbi was NOT a rebel and considered to be a hero. Many actually agreed with his politics but his way of doing things wasn't the best but then again no one of that time was doing things right either. Everyone wanted power.

But I don't blame you there's a lot of hidden events when it comes to Angola's history.

[terrynewsome]

He was something, love him hate him there is no denying that he has forever shaped the history and equally the future of angola.

[Bob-wqlf]

Thanks for this beautiful reporting. Very educative and informative.