Angola attains official independence
Post Timelines
25 April 1974
Portuguese colonial rule ends after a coup removes the government in Portugal
01 Apr 1989
On 1 April a force of between 1,200 and 1,800 SWAPO guerrillas crossed into Namibia, SWAPO's single largest incursion in its twenty-three-year insurgency.
30 Aug 1988 – Ruacana
The last of the South African troops withdraw from Angola, crossing the temporary steel bridge into SWA/Namibia and watched by the world's media and the Joint Monitoring Commission, 36 hours early than the planned time.
8 Aug 1988
On 8 August, the South Africans, Angolans and Cubans announced a ceasefire in Angola and SWA/Namibia. A line was drawn from Chitado, Ruacana, Calueque, Naulili, Cuamato and Chitado that the Cubans would stay north of and would guarantee the water irrigation supply...
11 Jun 1988 Tsamatse
SWAPO PLAN attacks the SADF military base at Tsamatse
01 Mar 1988 Tumpo
The second attack on Tumpo began on 1 March. Its objective was to destroy the Cubans and FAPLA at the bridgehead or drive them west over the Cuito River and destroy the bridge.187 Again the attack failed due to minefields and stand-off artillery fire. This marked the...
12 Dec 1987 Cuito Cuanavale
SAAF Mirage F1Azs escort a Buccaneer to hit the bridge over the River Cuito near Cuito Cuanavale with H2 guided bombs
25 Oct 1987 Indungo
SADF Special Forces, 1 Parachute Battalion, 2 Recce, 5 Recce, 32 Battalion supported by 101 Battalion, launch Operation Firewood B. The objective is to neutralize the SWAPO HQ by means of a motorized assault. During the evolution of this operation some of the SADF SF...
10 Oct 1987 Omahenene
SWAPO PLAN attacks the SADF military base at Omahenene for the first time
01 Aug 1987 Onavivi
PLAN attacks the SADF military base at Onavivi for the second time
11 Apr 1987 Luena
A FAPA Hind MI-8T helicopter is shot down at Luena in Angola leaving three dead. The aircraft is piloted by W/O Jesus Martinez Santos from Cuba
01 Feb 1987 Cassumbi
Operation Kakebeen goes into high gear as 32 Battalion attacks the SWAPO base at Cassumbi, killing 5 of the estimated 120 enemy, but also losing 4 members of 32 Battalion KIA, wounding 11 more. Large quantities of materiel are destroyed and SWAPO bombshells to Mucolo,...
24 Jan 1987 Cassumbi
A SWAPO POW captured in Kavango confirms the existence of a base west of Cassinga, and also at Cassumbi. 32 Battalion is ordered to locate the base near Cassinga. Bravo Company 32 Battalion located the base at Cassumbi and prepared for an attack as part of Operation...
10 Jul 1986 Etale
SWAPO PLAN attack on the SADF base at Etale,
04 Apr 1986 nr. Andulo
Cuban pilot Major Eduardo González Sarria, commander of the DAA/FAR's MiG-23 squadron in Angola, launched an R-24R missile at one of two South African Air Force (SAAF) C-130B transport aircraft near Andulo on a supply drop - despite hitting and damaging the...