How did the MPLA take control of Angola after independence?

Following a 1974 military coup in Portugal, the colonial power withdrew from Angola in 1975 without formally transferring authority to any of the competing liberation movements. The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which held the capital city of Luanda, declared itself the government of the independent People’s Republic of Angola in November 1975.12

The MPLA secured its control through the following means:

• Military Support: The MPLA received critical backing from Cuba and the Soviet Union. Cuban troops were instrumental in defending the MPLA against rival movements—the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)—and in pushing back South African forces that had intervened to support the opposition.12
• Consolidation of Power: By maintaining control of the capital and provincial centers, the MPLA gained recognition from many African nations.2
• Economic Stability: Despite the challenges of civil war, the oil industry, managed by foreign companies, provided the necessary revenue to prevent total economic and military collapse.2