Jonas Savimbi

Jonas Savimbi was a famous leader from the country of Angola.

He was born on August 3, 1934, in a small town called Munhango. His father, Lote, worked as a stationmaster on the Benguela railway. Savimbi grew up in a family that belonged to the Ovimbundu group. This group of people later became his largest group of supporters. He was a very smart student who attended many different schools. He studied at Protestant schools and also Roman Catholic schools. Later, he moved to Portugal to study medicine at the University of Lisbon.

Savimbi traveled to many places to learn about the world. He moved to Switzerland to study social sciences and law. At the University of Fribourg, he met a man named Holden Roberto. Savimbi also traveled to places like Uganda, Kenya, and the United States. In 1965, he earned a Ph.D. from Lausanne University. He was a very talented linguist who could speak seven languages fluently. These languages included Portuguese, French, and English. He often used his many skills to talk to leaders from different countries.

In the 1960s, Savimbi wanted Angola to be free from Portuguese rule.

He joined a group called the MPLA at first. However, he later joined forces with the FNLA in 1964. That same year, he helped start a new group called UNITA. Savimbi went to China to get military training and weapons. He returned to Angola in 1966 to lead a guerrilla war. This was a type of fighting where small groups hide and strike. He was very successful at using these tactics against the Portuguese.

After Angola became independent in 1975, a civil war began. This war was between UNITA and the ruling MPLA group.

The fighting became part of a larger global struggle called the Cold War. The Soviet Union helped the MPLA, while Savimbi sought help from the West. He presented himself to the world as an anti-communist leader. Because of this, the United States began to support him. The Central Intelligence Agency even helped send weapons to his fighters. He received help from many important people in the American government.

Savimbi met with very powerful leaders during his life. In 1986, he visited the White House to meet President Ronald Reagan.

Later, he also met with President George H.W. Bush. These meetings showed how important he was to the United States. By 1989, his group held control over many parts of Angola. He continued to lead his movement through many years of conflict. Finally, Savimbi died in 2002 during a clash with government troops. His life changed the history of his home country forever.