Angola, Cuba and South Africa allegedly signed a cease fire treaty

On 7 August 1988; Angola, Cuba and South Africa agreed to a formal ceasefire. Under the terms of the ceasefire and later treaty, Cuba was to withdraw its forces from Angola, and South Africa was to grant Namibia independence and withdraw its forces and elections were to be held in Angola.  The treaty was signed on 22 December 1988. The battle of Cuito Cuanavale and the Cuban intervention in Angola is one of the turning points in Southern African History. It led to the movement of powerful Cuban armed force, into the west, towards the Namibian border. As one can see from the terms of the treaty, fighting in the south western part of Angola led to the withdrawal of the SADF, ANC and Cuban presence in Angola, and to the Independence of Namibia. The battle of Cuito Cuanavale is, however, a contentious issue, widely discussed and debated by ordinary people, participants and historians. Depending on where you stand, Cuito Cuanavale is described as either a defeat of the South African Defence Forces (SADF), a tactical withdrawal by the SADF, or as a stalemate. To read more about the battle click here.