55 Day War

55 Day War
Part of the Angolan Civil War
Date9 January 1993– 6 March 1993
LocationAngola
Result UNITA victory
Belligerents
MPLA UNITA


The 55 Day War (Portuguese: Guerra dos 55 Dias) occurred in Angola, following the elections of 1992, when the city of Huambo was disrupted by a confrontation between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The war lasted 55 days, beginning on 9 January 1993.[1]

Over those days, the city was destroyed and lay in ruins. Few prisoners were taken. Wounded civilians and soldiers were left in the streets to die.[2]

After 55 days of urban warfare, UNITA held the city.[3] The MPLA retired to Benguela.

During the conflict, the MPLA lost 40 tanks and most of their artillery and small arms were captured.[2] UNITA claims that MPLA's casualties were 12,000. Other estimates of casualties totaled 12,000 to 15,000 with 5,000 being civilians.[2]

As a consequence of this conflict, Huambo lost its hegemony over other Angolan cities, having lost its industrial base, schools, universities, and homes.

See also

References

  1. Porto, João Gomes; Alden, Chris; Parsons, Imogen (2007). From Soldiers to Citizens: Demilitarization of Conflict and Society. Ashgate. p. 51. ISBN 9780754692287. OCLC 318536876.
  2. 1 2 3 Battersby, John (1993). "A Renewal of Civil War Ruins an Angolan City". The Christian Science Monitor (April 16). Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  3. Porto, João Gomes; Alden, Chris; Parsons, Imogen (2007). From Soldiers to Citizens: Demilitarization of Conflict and Society. Ashgate. p. 51. ISBN 9780754692287. OCLC 318536876.
Bibliography

Further reading

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