1975: Angola wins independence from Portugal amid civil war and intervention from the apartheid regime in South Africa. The conflict evolves into a war between the new Marxist MPLA government and its main rival, the then Maoist Unita led by Jonas Savimbi.
Cold war years: Washington funds Unita while apartheid South Africa fights many of its battles after invading Angola. Cuba provides the backbone of the MPLA’s military.
1989: The MPLA and Unita agree to a ceasefire, although fighting continues until both sides make concessions the following year that lay the groundwork for elections.
1992: Savimbi loses Angola’s first free elections and swiftly refuses to accept the result. Unita, which has failed to disarm under the peace accords, goes back to war.
1994: Another peace accord is signed in Zambia which offers Savimbi the vice- presidency and a degree of power-sharing.
1998: The war reflares in December after Unita again fails to fulfil its commitment to disarm and demobilise.
1999: The UN pulls out in January, blaming Savimbi for perpetuating the war.