the elections were declared "generally" free and fair by the un, with the mpla gaining just under 50% of the vote. however unita, along with eight opposition parties and many other election observers, said that the election had been neither free nor fair. following the halloween massacre, unita leader jonas savimbi directed unita forces to take up arms again against the mpla. however, the us now opposed unita, instead pressuring savimbi to accept the election results. the war ended after savimbi's death, in 2002.