UNITA

Acronym for Uniao Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola), Angolan nationalist movement founded by Jonas Savimbi in 1966. Backed by South Africa, UNITA continued to wage guerrilla warfare against the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) after the latter gained control of the country in 1976. A peace agreement was signed in May 1991, but fighting recommenced in September 1992, after Savimbi disputed an election victory for the ruling party. Another peace agreement was signed in 1994, but Savimbi later turned down the vice-presidency in a coalition government and the fighting continued. In February 2002, the Angolan army killed Savimbi, and two months later the government and UNITA signed a lasting ceasefire. Savimbi was succeeded as leader by Isaias Samakuva in 2003.