Who Is Jonas Savimbi? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Jonas Savimbi would be 91 years old if he were alive today. He was born in the province of Huambo, Angola, and educated in Portugal where he earned his degree in social sciences. Savimbi fiercely opposed the Marxist government of Angola and was the leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), a rebel group that fought against the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). His life was a mixture of political activism, conflicts, and diplomatic negotiations until he was killed in 2002.
| Occupation | Revolutionaries |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 3, 1934 |
| Age | 67 Years |
| Birth Place | Munhango, Bié Province, Portuguese Angola |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | Angola |
| Date of death | 22 February, 2002 |
| Died Place | Lucusse, Moxico Province, Angola |
Popularity
Jonas Savimbi's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Jonas Savimbi was known for his robust physique. He stood at approximately 6 feet tall and weighed around 190 pounds during his peak. His measurements reflected a disciplined lifestyle, as he led a group engaged in guerrilla warfare often requiring physical resilience.
By 1989, UNITA held total control of several limited areas, but was able to develop significant guerrilla operations everywhere in Angola, with the exception of the coastal cities and Namibe Province.
At the height of his military success, in 1989 and 1990, Savimbi was beginning to launch attacks on government and military targets in and around the country's capital, Luanda. Observers felt that the strategic balance in Angola had shifted and that Savimbi was positioning UNITA for a possible military victory.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Jonas Savimbi was married to a woman named Lúcia, and the couple had several children. However, there are limited resources discussing his personal relationships. His commitment to his political career often overshadowed his private life, as he dedicated himself fully to his cause.
Savimbi's father, Lote, was a stationmaster on Angola's Benguela railway line and a preacher of the Protestant Igreja Evangélica Congregacional de Angola (Evangelical Congregational Church of Angola), founded and maintained by American missionaries. Both his parents were members of the Bieno group of the Ovimbundu, the people who later served as Savimbi's major political base.
Net Worth and Salary
While Jonas Savimbi passed away in 2002, at the height of his influence, estimates suggest that he amassed significant wealth through various means, including international support for UNITA. His net worth during the peak of his career is estimated to be in the millions, although precise figures remain elusive due to the nature of his operations and the complexities surrounding civil conflicts.
Career, Business, and Investments
Savimbi’s career was largely defined by his role in the Angolan Civil War. He started his political journey as a revolutionary leader aiming to secure independence from Portuguese colonial rule. Following independence, his career transitioned into armed resistance against the MPLA government. Beyond politics, any documented investments or business ventures are scarce, largely due to the nature of rebellion funding.
In 1985, with the backing of the Reagan administration and through the lobbying efforts of Paul Manafort and his firm Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly which was paid $600,000 each year from Savimbi beginning in 1985, Jack Abramoff and other U.S.
conservatives organized the Democratic International in Savimbi's base in Jamba, in Cuando Cubango Province in southeastern Angola. Savimbi was strongly supported by the influential, conservative Heritage Foundation.
Heritage foreign policy analyst Michael Johns and other conservatives visited regularly with Savimbi in his clandestine camps in Jamba and provided the rebel leader with ongoing political and military guidance in his war against the Angolan government.
Social Network
During his lifetime, Savimbi was a controversial figure with both staunch supporters and harsh critics. He leveraged various global connections to gain support for UNITA, often using media as a tool to influence public perception. In modern times, his legacy is discussed within intellectual circles, political discussions, and social networks, where both his achievements and failings are debated.
Savimbi sought a leadership position in the MPLA by joining the MPLA Youth in the early 1960s. He was rebuffed by the MPLA, and joined forces with the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) in 1964. The same year, he conceived UNITA with Antonio da Costa Fernandes. Savimbi went to China for help and was promised arms and military training.
Upon returning to Angola in 1966, he launched UNITA and began his career as an anti-Portuguese guerrilla fighter. He also fought the FNLA and MPLA, as the three resistance movements tried to position themselves to lead a post-colonial Angola.
Portugal later released PIDE (Polícia Internacional e de Defesa do Estado, a Portuguese security agency) archives revealing that Savimbi had signed a collaboration pact with Portuguese colonial authorities to fight the MPLA.
Education
Savimbi's academic journey began in Angola, but he later moved to Portugal for higher education. He graduated with a degree in social sciences, which paved the way for his political ideology and activism against colonialism, and eventually helped shape his vision for Angola.
In his early years, Savimbi was educated mainly in Protestant schools, but also attended Roman Catholic schools. At the age of 24 he received a scholarship to study in Portugal.
