1988 — The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale Ends

On March 23, 1988, the last major attack on Cuito Cuanavale, in southern Angola, was brought to a halt, ending the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale. Fought since August 1987 by Angola's FAPLA forces and their Cuban allies against South Africa and UNITA, it was the largest conventional battle on the African continent since the Second World War.

The defenders held the town, and the long fight became a turning point for the whole region. Nelson Mandela later called it a decisive turning point in the struggle against apartheid. The talks that followed led toward South African and Cuban withdrawals, and toward Namibia's independence in 1990. Southern Africa still marks March 23 in its memory.