Week 5: Proxy Wars Ideological Conflict in Africa and Latin America Proxy War: Definition ● A war, interstate or intrastate, that involves the use of third parties by two opposing powers. Portuguese Colonies in Africa Resistance Begins in 1960s PAIGC in Guinea- MPLA, FNLA and FRELIMO in Bissau UNITA in Angola Mozambique Carnation Revolution in Portugal ● Colonial wars in stalemate before 1974. ● 1974: Army overthrows Caetano, grants African colonies independence Civil Wars in Angola and Mozambique ● MPLA takes over government of Angola. ○ FNLA and UNITA united to fight against MPLA government. ● FRELIMO takes over in Mozambique. ○ Renamo rebels from neighboring Rhodesia. Angolan Civil War Actor Map Supported by: Supported by: Cuba in Angola ● Initial support for PAIGC in Guinea Bissau. ● Send troops to Angola in 1975 to support MPLA. ● More active Soviet support once RSA intervenes. South Africa under Apartheid ● White minority government, economic domination. ● Africans disenfranchised, movement restricted. ANC and SWAPO ● ANC formed to resist Apartheid. ● Repressed, militarizes abroad in 1960s. ● South West Africa occupied by RSA. ○ SWAPO formed seeking independence and majority rule. South Africa in Angola ● Fear MPLA support for ANC. ● Invade to support UNITA. ○ Hope for US rapprochement. Chinese Support for UNITA ● Split from Soviets in 1959. ● Fear Soviet expansion. ● Tacit alliance with US. ○ Nixon visit. ● FNLA falls apart. US Support for UNITA ● Forbidden by Clark Amendment in 1976. ● Private support by US conservatives. ● Helps UNITA grow after Clark Amendment repealed (1985). Course of the War (1970s) ● Cuba and MPLA repeal initial RSA offensive. ○ Destroy FNLA. ● South Africa regroups to Southwest Africa, enters Angola to fight SWAPO. ● UNITA grows in size. US support increases in 1980s ● War reaches stalemate in the South. ● Cuban troops integrate with rebels, threaten Namibia ● Large RSA offensive fails in 1988 Tripartite Accord (1989) ● South West Africa independent as Namibia. ● Cuban troops withdraw from Angola. ● Elections in Angola between MPLA and UNITA. Mozambican Civil War Actor Map Supported by: Supported by: (After 1980) (Before 1980) Rhodesia: Africa’s Pariah ● Unilateral independence from UK in 1965. ● White minority rule. ○ African discrimination ● Whites own most arable land and all mining interests Fear Independent Portuguese Colonies ● Fighting Zanu-PF since 1960s. ● Rhodesia’s CIO creates RENAMO to fight FRELIMO in Mozambique Stalemate: Atrocities committed by both sides ● South Africa supports RENAMO after Rhodesia becomes Zimbabwe. ● Zimbabwean troops aid FRELIMO Post-Cold War outcomes ● Savimbi loses 1992 election, UNITA resumes war in Angola. ○ Ends with Savimbi’s death in 2002 ● RENAMO competes in Mozambican elections, not viable. Is there a pattern in proxy intervention? Are proxies superpower agents or motivated by their own concerns? Nicaraguan Revolution ● Somoza's/National Guard rule since 1930s. ● Broad opposition front overthrows Somoza in 1979. ● Sandinistas come to power. Sandinista Government ● Social programs and reforms at home. ● Support for other Central American insurgents. Rise of the Contras ● Reagan trains and arms former National Guard. ● Contras begin insurgency in 1981. ○ Use terror tactics ● Boland amendment forbids aid. Iran-Contra Iran fighting against Iraq Pressure Hezbollah holds American Contras hostages in Lebanon Sandinistas lose 1990 election ● War fatigue, economic problems contribute to loss. ● Violetta Chamorro president. ● Contras disband ● Ortega re-elected in 2007. Does funding the Contras reveal problems about proxies? On Thursday... Halloween + Non-ideological intervention.