Established in Luanda, the MPLA derived much of its support from Mbundus in the cities and along the coast.  Marxist-leaning mesticos and assimilados made up most of the group's leadership and formed ties with the Soviet Union and other communist countries.  Agostihno Neto, an assimilado doctor educated in Lisbon, was the early leader of the MPLA and would later become the first president of independent Angola.  The FNLA, led by Holden Roberto, was based in neighboring Congo (Leopoldville) and largely a regional and ethnic group representing the interests of the Bakongo people of northern Angola.