-
XO BBHQ posted in the group Angolan / South African Border War
Soldiers from #FAPLA (Forças Armadas Populares de Libertação de Angola), the armed branch of the MPLA (Movimento Popular pela Libertação de Angola) who at the time when this photograph was taken (13/11/75) were participating in the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002). The lead man has draped a wounded soldier over his shoulders as they march. Notice the mixture of WWII-vintage Soviet #PPsh-41 (or a foreign version), and what seems to be an M16. Also notice the wide variation of headgear worn.
The #MPLA, who were in control of the capital and would remain in the #Angolan government until 1990, would have to fight against three different opponents at once during the war: The FNLA (backed by the US), UNITA (backed by the US and China) as well as facing South African forces between 1975 and 1988 when the battle of Cuito Cuanavale led to the withdrawal of South African forces to Namibia. The MPLA in turn was backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba, in which the latter provided provided troops on the ground to support the MPLA.