Antonio Agostinho Neto Biography

Birth of Antonio Agostinho Neto

Attempts a failed offensive from on Angola from Zambia

Movimento popular de Libertacao de Angola, a Marxist rival to the UPA.

The Angolan Communist Party (PCA) merges with the Party of the United Struggle for Africans in Angola (PLUA) to form the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola with Viriato da Cruz, the President of the PCA, as Secretary General.

The MPLA was founded in 1956 as a Marxist party with a strong following in the Angolan capital, Luanda, it is first led by Antonio Neto.

Arrested by Portuguese authorities, 1960-1962

Escapes to Morocco

The MPLA adopts and reaffirms its policies for an independent Angola, democracy, multiracialism, national liberation of the entire colony, non-alignment, no foreign military bases in Angola, and nationalization

The MPLA adopts and reaffirms its policies for an independent Angola, democracy, multiracialism, national liberation of the entire colony, non-alignment, no foreign military bases in Angola, and nationalization

The MPLA holds a party congress, Viriato da Cruz, found to be "slow, negligent, and adverse to planning," is replaced by Agostinho Neto. The MPLA adopts and reaffirms its policies for an independent Angola, democracy, multiracialism, national liberation of the entire colony, non-alignment, no foreign military bases in Angola, and nationalization

Appointed President of the Movimento Popular de Libertacao de Angola

The MPLA commences military operations against the Portuguese in 1963

The MPLA commences military operations against the Portuguese in 1963

Meets Che Guevara & wins Cuban support

Neto meets Marxist leader Che Guevara and soon receives funding from the Governments of Cuba, German Democratic Republic, and the Soviet Union

The MPLA begin forming squadrons of 100 to 150 militants, armed with 60mm and 81mm mortar, to attack Portuguese outposts

The Portuguese conduct counter-insurgency sweeps against MPLA forces in 1972 and 1973, destroying the Ho Chi Minh camp

Holden Roberto, Agostinho Neto, and Jonas Savimbi met in Bukavu, Zaire agree to negotiate with the Portuguese as one political entity

Proclaims the Peoples Republic of Angola

The civil war is mainly a conflict between two primary Angolan factions, the Communist MPLA and the anti-Communist UNITA

Appointed President of Angola

The Alvor Agreement grants Angola independence from Portugal on November 11, ending the war for independence while marking the transition to civil war. Goes to Portugal & agrees to form a coaltion Government with Roberto & Savimbi

The Alvor Agreement grants Angola independence from Portugal on November 11, ending the war for independence while marking the transition to civil war

The MPLA drive the FNLA out of Luanda & the Government collapses

The MPLA drive the FNLA out of Luanda & the Government collapses

The MPLA, FNLA & UNITA agree to hold the first assembly elections in October 1975. The free elections the agreement had provided for by October 31, 1975 were finally held in 1992, UNITA, in 2nd place, did not accept the outcome and the civil war continued for another 10 years, only to end in 2002, when UNITA leader Savimbi got killed

The MPLA, FNLA & UNITA agree to hold the first assembly elections in October 1975. The free elections the agreement had provided for by October 31, 1975 were finally held in 1992, UNITA, in 2nd place, did not accept the outcome and the civil war continued for another 10 years, only to end in 2002, when UNITA leader Savimbi got killed

The MPLA, FNLA & UNITA agree to hold the first assembly elections in October 1975

The MPLA, FNLA & UNITA agree to hold the first assembly elections in October 1975. The free elections the agreement had provided for by October 31, 1975 were finally held in 1992, UNITA, in 2nd place, did not accept the outcome and the civil war continued for another 10 years, only to end in 2002, when UNITA leader Savimbi got killed

Agostinho Neto, the leader of the MPLA, declares the independence of the Peoples Republic of Angola, in accordance with the Alvor Accords

UNITA and the FNLA also declare Angolan independence as the Social Democratic Republic of Angola based in Huambo and the Democratic Republic of Angola based in Ambriz

Agostinho Neto, the leader of the MPLA, declares the independence of the Peoples Republic of Angola, in accordance with the Alvor Accords

UNITA and the FNLA also declare Angolan independence as the Social Democratic Republic of Angola based in Huambo and the Democratic Republic of Angola based in Ambriz. Agostinho Neto, the leader of the MPLA, declares the independence of the Peoples Republic of Angola, in accordance with the Alvor Accords

UNITA and the FNLA also declare Angolan independence as the Social Democratic Republic of Angola based in Huambo and the Democratic Republic of Angola based in Ambriz

Agostinho Neto, the leader of the MPLA, declares the independence of the Peoples Republic of Angola, in accordance with the Alvor Accords

UNITA and the FNLA also declare Angolan independence as the Social Democratic Republic of Angola based in Huambo and the Democratic Republic of Angola based in Ambriz

400 years of Portuguese dominion end, Netu becomes the first president of Angola, his Government is officially recognized by the OAS

400 years of Portuguese dominion end, Netu becomes the first president of Angola, his Government is officially recognized by the OAS

FNLC forces based in Angola cross into Zaire's Shaba province, creating a major security crisis for Mobutu's government.