Unita shakes foundations of MPLA, slashing ruling party’s majority by 27% in Angola

[PrimeSteak]

ISS TODAY ANALYSIS: Unita shakes foundations of MPLA, slashing ruling party’s majority by 27% in Angola

The opposition made huge gains in last week’s elections, but now it faces tough choices.

www.dailymaverick.co.za

The MPLA squeaked home with an official 51% of the vote to the 44% of its old civil war enemy and later political rival, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita). Unita contested the election as part of a de facto coalition with PRA-JA Servir Angola and the Democratic Bloc.

But even the official result was a stunning setback for the MPLA and a huge psychological boost for the opposition. In the 2017 elections, the MPLA won 61% and Unita only 26.67%. In slashing the ruling party’s majority by 27% last week, Unita and its United Patriotic Front coalition delivered its best election result thus far. This was by far the MPLA’s worst performance since multiparty democracy began in 1992.

 

[PrimeSteak]

Seems the chickens are coming home to roost for the struggle movements. Next year, it's ZANU-PF's turn and then in 2024, the ANC's...

 

[WizardOfAges]

Seems the chickens are coming home to roost for the struggle movements. Next year, it's ZANU-PF's turn and then in 2024, the ANC's...

Yes!

 

[WizardOfAges]

Seems the chickens are coming home to roost for the struggle movements. Next year, it's ZANU-PF's turn and then in 2024, the ANC's...

Don't know how many chickens remain. Most were stolen and the others were deep fried.

 

[TheChamp]

Congratulations to MPLA even with the slender win, Dos Santos really cost them with his dictatorship tendencies, hope the new guy is better.

 

[PrimeSteak]

Don't know how many chickens remain. Most were stolen and the others were deep fried.

Correction: expropriated

 

[noxibox]

Seems the chickens are coming home to roost for the struggle movements. Next year, it's ZANU-PF's turn and then in 2024, the ANC's...

Unita is a struggle movement/party.

 

[TheChamp]

The struggle movement/party that was preferred by the oppressor.

 

[sefeddt]

The struggle movement/party that was preferred by the oppressor.

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Yet the same MPLA used many former "enemy" to crush Unita's armed resistance. What's also interesting is that the MPLA did not include any former MK militants, knowing how useless they were.

 

[ForceFate]

Yet the same MPLA used many former "enemy" to crush Unita's armed resistance. What's also interesting is that the MPLA did not include any former MK militants, knowing how useless they were.

Actually they did get involved. I once read a pan article/paper detailing their involvement with Cuban and MPLA forces. However, I don't think they were part of the skirmishes further south.

 

[PrimeSteak]

Unita is a struggle movement/party.

Was referring more to MPLA who's governed for a few decades?

 

[3WA]

Next year, it's ZANU-PF

ZANU-PF lost an election in 2008; they just put in a government of national unity. They'll do the same if they lose next year.

 

[PrimeSteak]

The struggle movement/party that was preferred by the oppressor.

View attachment 1376617

I find it strange tho. For a government hellbent on racial division and discrimination they worked with UNITA with no qualms...

 

[TheChamp]

Good thing that Unita has become civilised enough to take part in election, it's good for the democracy of the country.

 

[PrimeSteak]

ZANU-PF lost an election in 2008; they just put in a government of national unity. They'll do the same if they lose next year.

That was thanks to Mbeki 2 (his second administration) and its interference. If they didn't interfere, Zim would've long been liberated from ZANU-PF.

It depends on ANC. If ANC abandons them, then they should be done for.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Seems the chickens are coming home to roost for the struggle movements. Next year, it's ZANU-PF's turn and then in 2024, the ANC's...

Yep, the median time for post liberation movement governments seems to be 30 - 40 years.

 

[TheChamp]

I find it strange tho. For a government hellbent on racial division and discrimination they worked with UNITA with no qualms...

I don't know why you find it strange, they wanted to topple MPLA and they found an ally in Unita, not like they had a choice of a white rebel army they could use in Angola.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Unita is a struggle movement/party.

Yes, but has never been a post liberation movement government.

 

[TheChamp]

That was thanks to Mbeki 2 (his second administration) and its interference. If they didn't interfere, Zim would've long been liberated from ZANU-PF.

It depends on ANC. If ANC abandons them, then they should be done for.

What would have happened to liberate Zim from Zanu?

 

[sefeddt]

Actually they did get involved. I once read a pan article/paper detailing their involvement with Cuban and MPLA forces. However, I don't think they were part of the skirmishes further south.

I'm referring to post Angola independence when SA had completely withdrawn. Ex SADF members from company's like Executive Outcomes were recruited to assist MPLA in toppling Unita after they returned to armed resistance.