1934- . Angolan soldier and right-wing
revolutionary, founder of the National Union
for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
The struggle for independance from Portugal
escalated in 1961 into a civil war. In 1966
Savimbi founded the right-wing UNITA, which
he led against the left-wing People's
Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA),
led by Agostinho Neto. Neto, with Soviet and
Cuban support, became president when
independence was achieved in 1975, while
UNITA, assisted by South Africa, continued
its fight. A ceasefire was agreed in June
1989, but fighting continued, and the truce
was abandoned after two months.