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The national flag of
Angola. This western
African country was
embroiled in a long
civil war following its
independence from
Portugal in 1975 that
involved South West Africa,
as well as South Africa,
Cuba, and other countries.
United Nations had not decided to intervene in 1966, declaring South
West Africa a Non-Self-Governing Territory rather than a Mandate of South
Africa, the country of Namibia would probably not exist today. Although
South Africa continued to try to take possession of South West Africa, it
faced the opposition of both the United Nations and its powerful member
nations and of SWAPO and the people of the future Namibia. Under these
pressures, South Africa finally agreed to take the necessary steps toward
Namibian independence.
Chapter Five