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55 Day War

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55 Day War
Part of the Angolan Civil War
Date9 January 1993– 6 March 1993
(1 month, 3 weeks and 4 days)
Location
Angola
Result UNITA victory
Belligerents
MPLA UNITA

The 55 Day War (Portuguese: Guerra dos 55 Dias) occurred in Angola, following the elections of 1992, when the city of Huambo was disrupted by a confrontation between the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The war lasted 55 days, beginning on 9 January 1993.[1] [2]

Over those days, the city was destroyed and lay in ruins. Few prisoners were taken. Wounded civilians and soldiers were left in the streets to die.[3]

After 55 days of urban warfare, UNITA held the city.[1] The MPLA retired to Benguela. [citation needed]

During the conflict, the MPLA lost 40 tanks and most of their artillery and small arms were captured.[3] UNITA claims that MPLA's casualties were 12,000. Other estimates of casualties totaled 12,000 to 15,000 with 5,000 being civilians.[3]

As a consequence of this conflict, Huambo lost its hegemony over other Angolan cities, having lost its industrial base, schools, universities, and homes.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Porto, João Gomes; Alden, Chris; Parsons, Imogen (2007). From Soldiers to Citizens: Demilitarization of Conflict and Society. Ashgate. p. 51. ISBN 9780754692287. OCLC 318536876. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  2. ^ "Stories from Huambo", survivors speak about the siege of their city
  3. ^ a b c Battersby, John (1993). "A Renewal of Civil War Ruins an Angolan City". The Christian Science Monitor (April 16). Retrieved 18 October 2016.
Bibliography
  • Porto, João Gomes; Alden, Chris; Parsons, Imogen (2007). From Soldiers to Citizens: Demilitarization of Conflict and Society. Ashgate. ISBN 9780754692287. OCLC 318536876. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Malley-Morrison, Kathleen (2009). State Violence and the Right to Peace: Western Europe and North America. Praeger Security International/ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780275996475. OCLC 319868186. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

Further reading

  • "The battle for Huambo" 1993, Economist, 326, 7801, pp. 43–45.
  • "Fingers crossed" 1994, Economist, 333, 7893, p. 44.
  • "The ruins of rebellion" 1994, Economist, 330, 7852, pp. 44–45.
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