Luanda - The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) is the main opposition party in the country since the proclamation of National Independence.
UNITA was founded on 13 March 1966 by dissidents from the FNLA and the Government of Resistance of Angola in Exile (GRAE), with Jonas Savimbi as its first president.
Before that, Jonas Savimbi had held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs at GRAE.
Jonas Savimbi and António da Costa Fernandes founded the then guerrilla movement in Muangai, Moxico province, in the presence of another 200 delegates. The Muangai project is based on five structuring pillars: freedom and independence, democracy guaranteed by the vote, sovereignty of the people and equality in the homeland of birth.
It is the second largest party in Angola and, therefore, the largest political party in the opposition. In the last elections, in 2017, it won 32 of the 220 seats in the National Assembly.
With the end of the civil war in the country, in 2002, and the subsequent death of its leader (Jonas Savimbi), UNITA abandoned the armed struggle, becoming a political party.
After the death of its leader, it knew a division, having a wing of dissidents, one called “UNITA - Renovada” (Renewed UNITA), at the time led by Eugénio Manuvakola, and another “UNITA”, whose leadership was in charge of a management committee, coordinated by Paulo Lukamba “Gato”.
The situation led the parties to negotiations (mediated by Jorge Valentim), in order to reunite the party, and, in June 2003, its IX Congress was held, in which Isaías Samakuva was elected president.
Ideological guidance
Currently, the party does not have a dominant ideology, having previously had left-wing nationalism and humanist socialism. Its leaders are of the view that UNITA seeks to attract people with different points of view.
Participation in elections and percentage won
1992 (34.1% of votes, 70 elected MPs)
2008 (10.4% of votes, 16 elected MPs)
2012 (18.7% of votes, 32 elected MPs)
2017 (26.68% of votes, 51 elected MPs)
