Flashback: Kenya’s Role in Angolan Independence
From Presidential Library, Museums and Exhibitions, Twitter/@OPLMKe
Angolan liberation leaders, from L to R Jonas Savimbi, Holden Roberto and Agostinho Neto, with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta at Mombasa State House on 3rd January 1975, days before they traveled to Portugal to sign the Alvor Accord that granted independence to Angola.
Mzee Kenyatta brought the leaders to Kenya to confer and form a common front before going for the independence talks with Portuguese government. At the time, the liberation movement armies were fighting each other with influence from the Cold War powers.
With Angola’s independence date approaching and internal war still raging, Mzee Kenyatta arranged a second peace summit for the leaders at Nakuru State House. They later signed the Nakuru Agreement on 21st June 1975. The room in Nakuru State House where the Angolan peace talks were held has since been known as Angola Meeting Room and is used regularly during Presidential functions. Angola gained independence on 11th November 1975 with Dr Neto as its first President.
