Africa-Press – Angola. President João Lourenço inaugurated on Thursday in Luanda the exhibition “Paths of Fire, Horizons of Peace”, a gallery that traces the chronology of the main combats, battles and military operations that marked the recent history of Angola, between 1975 and 2002.
The Angolan Head of State, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), visited the exhibition and received detailed explanations about the exhibition system of this artistic initiative, which will be available to the public at the National Museum of Military History.
The exhibition offers visitors a comprehensive view of the decisive moments of the armed struggle and the defense of national sovereignty, from the areas of influence of the liberation movements before Independence to the consolidation of peace and national reconciliation.
It illustrates the clashes and foreign invasions in the North and South, as well as the counter-offensives by Angolan force to expel invading troops.
In this context, the second and third invasions by the South African Defence Force (SADF) and the occupation of the Cunene province, which took place between 1981 and 1985, stand out, a period in which Angola reinforced its defensive apparatus.
The exhibition also pays special attention to the events of 1987 and 1988, a phase that consolidated the liberation process of Southern Africa, culminating in the historic Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, fought on March 23, 1988.
This episode is considered a milestone in the defeat of the apartheid regime and a decisive political turning point for the entire region.
It then moves on to the pre- and post-election period (1989–1992), highlighting operations such as Zebra, the 45-day Siege of Luena, the Siege of Cuito (Bié), as well as Operations Quissonde and Merciless Persecution.
Between 1993 and 2002, the narrative focuses on the reconstruction of the country after the post-election clashes of 1992, highlighting the effort to restore state authority and the peace process that followed.
The visitor is also guided through the record of the cantonment and disarmament of more than 85,000 combatants from the UNITA military forces, the integration of 5,007 soldiers into the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), and the social reintegration of surplus soldiers.
The tour concludes with one of the most emblematic phrases in Angola’s recent history, uttered by then-President José Eduardo dos Santos on February 22, 2002: “Not another shot. We must preserve the men alive to negotiate peace.”
The exhibition “Paths of Fire, Horizons of Peace” thus constitutes a tribute to those who fought and to those who believed that the end of the fighting would be the beginning of a new horizon of peace and national reconciliation.
About the National Museum of Military History
Located in the historic São Miguel Fortress in Luanda, the National Museum of Military History is one of the main spaces for the preservation and enhancement of Angola’s military memory, bringing together collections that portray the liberation struggle, the defense of sovereignty, and the milestones of national reconciliation.
It is located in the São Miguel Fortress, in the Ingombota district, municipality and province of Luanda.
The fortress, built in 1576 by Paulo Dias de Novais during the Portuguese colonial period, was initially a military construction intended for the defense of the colony.
Over the centuries, the building had various functions, including that of a depot for convicts, before being converted into a museum space.
On July 31, 1978, the fortress began housing the Central Museum of the Angolan Armed Forces, the first museum dedicated to the country’s military history.
After rehabilitation and modernization works, the space was reopened on April 4, 2013, adopting its current name, the National Museum of Military History.
Currently, it operates as a center for the preservation and dissemination of Angolan military history, with a recovered collection and renewed exhibitions that narrate the decisive stages of the formation of the State and national defense.
Featured collection and exhibitions
The museum brings together military vehicles, war materials, aircraft, tanks, and other artifacts used in the different armed conflicts that marked the country, from the national liberation struggle to the civil war.
Among the pieces on display are historical statues, such as those of Portuguese explorers, tile panels representing significant moments in Angolan history, and collections dedicated to colonization, independence, and the consolidation of peace.
One of the most prominent elements is the “Monument-Flag,” erected on the fortress, consisting of a 75-meter-high mast and an 18-meter by 12-meter flag, weighing approximately 40 kilograms, capable of withstanding winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour.
Cultural and touristic relevance
The fortress and museum are recognized as one of the landmarks of the city of Luanda, both for their historical and symbolic value, and for the panoramic view over the capital’s bay.
The National Museum of Military History receives between 7,000 and 9,000 visitors per month, consolidating itself as one of the main points of cultural and tourist interest in the country.
In addition to the touristic aspect, the museum plays an educational and symbolic role, promoting the memory of independence and the spirit of national reconciliation, fundamental pillars of Angola’s contemporary history.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
