# Jonas Malheiro Savimbi

> Angolan political and military leader (1934-2002)

**Wikidata**: [Q273051](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273051)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Savimbi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jonas-malheiro-savimbi

## Summary
Jonas Malheiro Savimbi was an Angolan political and military leader who lived from 1934 to 2002. He is best known as the leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), a political party and guerrilla movement active during the Angolan War of Independence and the subsequent Angolan Civil War.

## Biography
- **Born:** August 3, 1934
- **Died:** February 22, 2002
- **Nationality:** Angola
- **Education:** University of Lausanne
- **Occupation:** Politician, Partisan (guerrilla member)
- **Known for:** Founding and leading the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
- **Active Period:** Beginning in 1964

## Contributions
Savimbi founded the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) on March 13, 1966. Under his leadership, the organization operated as both a political party and a guerrilla movement, engaging in the Angolan War of Independence (1961–1975) and the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002). He led UNITA as a key belligerent force in the region for decades.

## FAQs
**What was Jonas Savimbi's role in Angolan conflicts?**
Savimbi was a central figure in both the Angolan War of Independence and the Angolan Civil War, leading his political-military organization, UNITA, against opposing forces from 1966 until his death in 2002.

**Where was Jonas Savimbi educated?**
Jonas Savimbi attended the University of Lausanne, located in Lausanne, Switzerland.

**What does UNITA stand for and when was it founded?**
UNITA stands for the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola. It was founded by Savimbi on March 13, 1966.

## Why They Matter
Jonas Savimbi matters as a pivotal figure in the history of Southern Africa, having profoundly shaped the trajectory of Angola during the 20th century. As the leader of UNITA, he was instrumental in the protracted Angolan Civil War, influencing the geopolitical stability of the region and the dynamics of the Cold War in Africa. His leadership of a major partisan faction challenged the established government structures following independence from the Portuguese Empire, making him a defining actor in the nation's post-colonial history.

## Notable For
- **Leadership of UNITA:** Founder and leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola.
- **Military Command:** Served as a partisan and military leader throughout the Angolan Civil War.
- **Political Influence:** Key political figure in Angola from the 1960s through the early 2000s.
- **International Connections:** Educated in Switzerland at the University of Lausanne.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Jonas Malheiro Savimbi was born on August 3, 1934. Details regarding his early life are rooted in his Angolan citizenship. He pursued higher education internationally, attending the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. This educational background preceded his entry into political and military activities.

### Political and Military Career
Savimbi's career was defined by his dual role as a politician and a partisan. He is most closely associated with the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), which he founded on March 13, 1966. UNITA was established as a political party within Angola but also functioned as a guerrilla movement.

His work period is noted as beginning in 1964, leading directly into the formation of UNITA. Savimbi led this organization through two major historical conflicts: the Angolan War of Independence, which lasted from 1961 to 1975, and the subsequent Angolan Civil War, which spanned from 1975 to 2002. His activities were centered in Angola, a nation that gained independence from the Portuguese Empire on November 11, 1975.

### Death and Legacy
Jonas Savimbi died on February 22, 2002. His death marked the end of a decades-long career as a revolutionary and political leader in Angola. He is identified in historical records and databases as a human instance of significance, with numerous identifiers across international library and knowledge systems, including VIAF, Library of Congress, and Wikipedia.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/savimbi-jonas-malheiro-1934-2002/)
2. Dictionary of African Biography
3. LIBRIS. 2013
4. [Source](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/264094.stm)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
8. Find a Grave
9. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
10. BnF authorities
11. Munzinger Personen
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. Quora