Holden Alvaro Roberto Biography and Timeline

Birth of Holden Alvaro Roberto

Birth of Holden Alvaro Roberto

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

The original mission of the FNLA, officially formed under the leadership of Holden Roberto is to restore the home of the ethnic Bakongo people in northern Angola and southern Zaire, known as the "Kongo Kingdom"

UNITA

The original mission of the FNLA, officially formed under the leadership of Holden Roberto is to restore the home of the ethnic Bakongo people in northern Angola and southern Zaire, known as the "Kongo Kingdom"

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

Led by Holden Roberto, the FNLA evolves from the Uniao das Populacoes do Norte de Angola. A northern based party with an ethnic base among the Bakongo people

Invasion of Angola

Organizes Bakongo militants, launches an incursion into Angola, leading 4,000 to 5,000 militants

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

Organizes Bakongo militants, launches an incursion into Angola, leading 4,000 to 5,000 militants

Independence of Angola

The FNLA mounts the first serious challenge to Portuguese rule in Angola, it receives support from Za‹re, the USA and China

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

The FNLA mounts the first serious challenge to Portuguese rule in Angola, it receives support from Za‹re, the USA and China

Independence of Angola

The FNLA mounts the first serious challenge to Portuguese rule in Angola, it receives support from Za‹re, the USA and China

Role range: 1961-1974

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

The FNLA mounts the first serious challenge to Portuguese rule in Angola, it receives support from Za‹re, the USA and China

Role range: 1961-1974

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

Roberto establishes the Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile, appointing Savimbi to the position of Foreign Minister

Revolutionary Government

Roberto establishes the Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile, appointing Savimbi to the position of Foreign Minister

Revolutionary Government

Roberto establishes the Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile, appointing Savimbi to the position of Foreign Minister

Role range: 1961-1974

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

UNITA merges with the Democratic Party of Angola. Roberto merges the UPA with the Democratic Party of Angola to form the FNLA

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

Roberto visits Israel in the 1960s and received aid from the Israeli Government from 1963 to 1969

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

Savimbi leaves the FNLA and founds UNITA in response to Robertos unwillingness to spread the war outside the traditional Kingdom of Kongo

UNITA

Savimbi leaves the FNLA and founds UNITA in response to Robertos unwillingness to spread the war outside the traditional Kingdom of Kongo

Agreement of Alvor

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

Agreement of Alvor

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

Independence 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

Election

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

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

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

UNITA

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

Independence of Angola

The FNLA and UNITA forge an alliance proclaiming their own coalition Government based in Huambo with Holden Roberto and Jonas Savimbi as co-presidents and Jose Ndele and Johnny Pinnock Eduardo as co-Prime Minister's

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

The FNLA and UNITA forge an alliance proclaiming their own coalition Government based in Huambo with Holden Roberto and Jonas Savimbi as co-presidents and Jose Ndele and Johnny Pinnock Eduardo as co-Prime Minister's

UNITA

The FNLA and UNITA forge an alliance proclaiming their own coalition Government based in Huambo with Holden Roberto and Jonas Savimbi as co-presidents and Jose Ndele and Johnny Pinnock Eduardo as co-Prime Minister's

Independence of Angola

The MPLA defeats the FNLA in the Battle of Dead Road and the FNLA retreated to Zaire

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

The MPLA defeats the FNLA in the Battle of Dead Road and the FNLA retreated to Zaire

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

The MPLA defeats the FNLA in the Battle of Dead Road and the FNLA retreated to Zaire

Military Council of Angolan Resistance

Roberto is exiled to Paris, and a new but still ineffectual group, the Military Council of Angolan Resistance (COMIRA), was formed by ex-FNLA guerrillas and quickly disbanded

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

Roberto is exiled to Paris, and a new but still ineffectual group, the Military Council of Angolan Resistance (COMIRA), was formed by ex-FNLA guerrillas and quickly disbanded

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

1,500 FNLA fighters and 20,000 civilian supporters surrender, prompting Roberto to accept the MPLAs amnesty agreement, effectively shutting down the militant arm of the FNLA

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

1,500 FNLA fighters and 20,000 civilian supporters surrender, prompting Roberto to accept the MPLAs amnesty agreement, effectively shutting down the militant arm of the FNLA

Bicesse Accords

The FNLA and MPLA agree to the Bicesse Accords, allowing Roberto to return to Angola

Election

Runs unsuccessfully for President, receiving only 2.1% of the vote, the FNLA wins five seats in Parliament but refuses to participate in the Government

National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA)

The FNLA and MPLA agree to the Bicesse Accords, allowing Roberto to return to Angola. Runs unsuccessfully for President, receiving only 2.1% of the vote, the FNLA wins five seats in Parliament but refuses to participate in the Government

Death of Holden Alvaro Roberto

President Jose Eduardo dos Santos eulogizes, "Holden Roberto was one of the pioneers of national liberation struggle, whose name encouraged a generation of Angolans to opt for resistance and combat for the countrys independence". Death of Holden Alvaro Roberto