WHEN...

The civil war in Angola began when Angola gained independence from Portugal in November of 1975. For 25 years war has raged throughout the country, led by UNITA and the leadership of Dr. Jonas Savimbi. On February 22, 2002, Dr. Savimbi was shot and killed. Angolan government, ecstatic about their most relevant victory over UNITA, debated whether to issue a total UNITA surrender, or to conduct peace talks. President Dos Santos, who was in Lisbon at the time of Savimbi's death, flew to Washington to discuss his plans for Angola. On March 2 the government confirmed that UNITA would be contacted and a ceasefire negotiated. After Savimbi's death, initial reports suggested that UNITA would continue fighting, and would deny any ceasefire or talks of peace. Later that month talks of peace began. In Luena, on March 20,2002, a second round of talks began between UNITA and the government of Angola. By the end of the month a document had been drafted. A military agreement signed on the 30th of March, impacted the official signing later in April. In April 4, 2002 the Luena Memorandum was signed which marked the end of the war.