Eastern Revolt

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The Eastern Revolt (Portuguese: Revolta do Leste; RDL) is an Angolan nationalist organization that fought in the war for independence from Portugal under the leadership of Daniel Chipenda. The RDL drew its support from the Ovimbundu ethnic group.

In May 1966 Chipenda, then a member of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, established the Eastern Front, significantly expanding the MPLA's reach in Angola. When the EF collapsed, Chipenda and Neto each blamed the other's factions. In 1972 the Soviet Union allied with Chipenda's faction, giving him aid. The Eastern Revolt also received aid from the governments of Zambia and South Africa. Chipenda left the MPLA in 1973, founding the Eastern Revolt with 1,500 former MPLA followers. He opposed the MPLA's mestizo-leadership and was wary of the Soviet Union, despite its support.

In 1973 the Soviet Union invited Neto to Moscow and told him Chipenda planned to assassinate him. Although Chipenda joined the FNLA in September 1974 the Eastern Revolt's existence continued and RDL forces fought against the MPLA in February 1975.

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Last updated on Friday July 06, 2007 at 00:44:24 PDT (GMT -0700)
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