cuban intervention in angola is believed to have started during the 1960s, but the actual deployment of troops started only by 1975 when angola got independence from portugal. experts see ideological confluence between cuba and mlpa of angola and also the common portuguese roots. cuba had been supportive to angola in resisting a series of attacks by the combined forces of south africa and their sponsored guerillas unita over the oil reserves in cabinda coast. united states were trying to broker peace by seeking systematic withdrawal of troops of cuba from the region with the simultaneous reduction of troops by south africa. the neutrality of us was questioned after it started supporting unita. president josé eduardo dos santos of angola resisted pressure from united nations for the withdrawal of troops of cuba quoting south african attacks in angola from 1981-85. angola also received support in terms of teaching, construction workers and doctors, the gap left on account of migration of whites from the nation soon after the independence. cuban soldiers allegedly received greater acclaim in the home country and were proud to be part of the troops to angola. there were also allegations that cuban soldiers contracted aids while at angola, but it was strongly denied.