S6 Episode 10 - "Zero-Sum"
Summary
Hosts Brendan James and Noah Colwyn conclude their Angola season by examining the 1992 elections, which Jonas Savimbi rejected, reigniting a brutal civil war. The episode details how UNITA funded its insurgency through diamond smuggling and mercenaries after losing U.S. support, while the MPLA government relied on oil wealth and Israeli intelligence. Savimbi’s 2002 death finally ended the conflict, leaving a legacy of massive destruction, corruption under José Eduardo dos Santos, and ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Topics discussed
Introduction and episode overview
Context: End of Cold War and 1992 elections
Savimbi's visit to the US and election preparations
The 1992 election results and outbreak of war
Humanitarian crisis and urban warfare
US policy shift and Clinton administration
Mercenaries, diamonds, and the Lusaka Protocol
South Africa's transition and loss of UNITA support
Landmines, Savimbi's decline, and his death
Aftermath of the war and Dos Santos' rule
Post-war Angola and Biden's 2024 visit
Chinese investment and future prospects
Conclusion and credits
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