Angola: A Ghost of Its Former Self

Independence has brought deprivation, disruption—and Cubans

Marxist-ruled Angola poses one of the biggest stumbling blocks to solving the problems that plague southern Africa. Five years of complex negotiations over a U.N. plan to win independence for the South African-controlled territory of Namibia have produced a stalemate over South Africa's demand that, as a quid pro quo, Cuba withdraw its 26,000 troops and advisers stationed in Angola. Yet the Cubans now seem more important than ever to the Angolan government. With the backing of South Africa, Angolan rebels have scored a series of...