Negotiating Angola's Independence Transition: The Alvor Accords

The decolonization process that led to Angola's independence in November 1975 is instructive in the annals of colonial bargains for African independence. The coincidence of domestic turmoil in Portugal following the collapse of the dictatorship in April 1974 and the fragmentation of the Angolan nationalist movements created a context that precluded an orderly transition. Weak and indecisive leadership in Lisbon contributed to the crafting and implementation of the equally weak Alvor Accords. Lessons from Angola's decolonization, however, continue to inform international efforts to build effective mechanisms for implementing peace agreements.