The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale (fought with intervals between late 1987 and early 1988), was an interesting occurence in African post-colonial history, fought between the Angolan communist government forces of the MPLA with its army, the FAPLA, alongside Cuban auxiliaries, on one side, and the anti-communist Angolan UNITA rebels, aided by South Africa, on the other. Analyses of the battle tend to be inconsistent, but the consensus seems to be that the engagement was tactically and strategically inconclusive. Its most known effect was kickstarting peace negotiations between both parties in the conflict, that led to the withdrawal of South African and Cuban troops from the conflict and the independence of Namibia.
But what if the battle had been a decisive victory for one of the fighting parties, in this case, the communists (FAPLA and Cubans)? Could we see the South African border war going out of control and spilling into South Africa, possibly leading to a red Namibia (ephemeral or permanent)?
But what if the battle had been a decisive victory for one of the fighting parties, in this case, the communists (FAPLA and Cubans)? Could we see the South African border war going out of control and spilling into South Africa, possibly leading to a red Namibia (ephemeral or permanent)?