The following is a chronology of events in the southwest African country since independence:

1975

Nov 11: Angola wins independence from Portugal amid conflict.

The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which is Marxist, is fighting the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), both backed by the United States.

Apartheid South Africa in October sent troops to back Jonas Savimbi's UNITA against the MPLA, which had military support from Cuba.

1976

The MPLA defeats the FNLA and UNITA and Pretoria's soldiers officially fall back into neighbouring South West Africa, a South African-occupied country which becomes independent Namibia in March 1990.

1979

Sept 20: President Jose Eduardo dos Santos succeeds the late Agostinho Neto.

1981 to 1984

South Africa launches military incursions into Angola against Namibian guerrillas of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO).

Feb 16, 1984: A first Lusaka accord between Angola and South Africa provides for a withdrawal from Angola of South African troops which begins in 1985, to end in 1988.

1988

Aug 8: South Africa, Cuba and Angola agree on ceasefires in Angola and in Namibia as part of a regional peace deal.

Dec 22: A largely US-brokered treaty opens the way to Namibian independence and agreement on the withdrawal of 50,000 Cuban troops from Angola.

1989

July: Fighting resumes, in breach of a ceasefire signed June 22 in Zaire (today the Democratic Republic of Congo) by the Luanda government and UNITA.

1990

Dec 13: The MPLA and UNITA reach agreement in Washington on a ceasefire, a multi-party system and free general elections.

1991

May 1: The belligerents sign a further agreement at Estoril near Lisbon to engage in a ceasefire and hold elections.

May 30: The mandate of a UN Verification Mission (UNAVEM), deployed in Angola since the end of 1988, is extended.

May 31: The Luanda government and UNITA leadership officially sign peace accords ending the civil war.

1992

Sept 29-30: General elections take place under UN supervision and are won by the MPLA. Dos Santos falls just short of the 50 percent majority needed to win the presidential poll outright from Savimbi. A second round of voting is never held as renewed war breaks out because Savimbi refuses to admit defeat.

1993

March 6: UNITA takes control of Huambo, Angola's second city in the central highlands.

May 21: Negotiations between UNITA and the government collapse after 40 days of talks in Abidjan.

Oct 6: UNITA recognises the agreement signed at Estoril and the outcome of the general elections.

Nov 15: Direct negotiations between government and UNITA begin.

1994

March 31: UNITA agrees to a second round of presidential elections, but fierce fighting continues.

Oct 31: Government and UNITA representatives in Lusaka initial a protocol based on accords reached during the November 1993 negotiations.

Oct-Nov: Government troops take Huambo as they press home offensives to seize back all the main provincial towns held by UNITA.

1995

May 6: Dos Santos and Savimbi hold a first meeting in Libreville, Gabon.

May 18: Savimbi accepts the September 1992 election results and in June announces "the end of the war in Angola."

1996

March 1: A fourth Dos Santos-Savimbi summit decides on a national union government and the formation of a single army.

1997

April 10-11: A national union and reconciliation government is formed and takes office, with 11 UNITA members.

Oct 30: UN Security Council sanctions imposed on UNITA for failing to respect peace accords take effect.

1998

July-August: Heavy fighting in the north.

Aug 24: UNITA ceases to cooperate with the "troika" of nations monitoring peace accord -- Russia, the United States and Portugal.

Oct 27: Parliament voids special privileges granted to Savimbi in 1997.

Nov: Army launches an offensive against UNITA.

1999

Feb 26: UN ends observer mission due to escalating conflict.

Sept 14: Major military offensives begin, targeting the central UNITA strongholds of Andulo, Bailundo, Mungo and Nhareya, as well as the former rebel headquarters in Jamba in the south.

Dec: Namibia authorizes Angola to use its territory to fight UNITA.

2000

Nov 30: Attacks blamed on rebels intensify, targeting cities, villages and major roads.

2001

Sept 28: Oxfam International warns that Angolans are enduring a humanitarian catastrophe.

2002

Feb 22: Angolan government and army announce death of Savimbi in fighting with government forces in Moxico province.

Mar 12: Army confirms the death of Savimbi's likely successor General Antonio Dembo.

Mar 13: Government orders army to end offensive against UNITA.

Mar 15: Angolan army chiefs and rebel commanders meet in Moxico, decide to end hostilities throughout the nation.

April 4: Angolan army chiefs and UNITA leaders officially sign a ceasefire in Luanda.

May: Dos Santos appeals for international aid to stave off deaths from hunger and sickness in camps set up to disarm UNITA fighters. Aid agencies report some 200,000 people in areas previously cut off by the war need help.

Aug 2: UNITA formally disbands its military wing and lays down arms.

Aug 15: The UN Security Council sets up a new mission to help consolidate peace in Angola.

Oct 14: The Security Council votes to end sanctions against UNITA.

Nov 11: For the first time in 27 years, Angola marks the anniversary of independence from Portugal in a climate of peace.

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