Was the factional civil war that broke out in Angola after its independence in 1975 based on tribal rivalry?

Question

Was the factional civil war that broke out in Angola after its independence from Portugal in 1975 primarily based on tribal rivalries. (with an ideological cover)?

Answer 1

Broadly, yes.

• The MPLA's main support was among the Ambundu people.
• UNITA's main support came from the Ovimbundu tribe of central Angola.
• The FNLA's main support came from the Bakongo people in the North.

But it quickly became a proxy conflict within the wider Cold War though.

See also:

• What became of the plan to partition Angola?
• What was Yugoslavia doing in the Angolan Civil War?