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📅 holiday

Southern Africa Liberation Day Holiday

Monday, March 23, 2026

— days to go

In 2018, all member states of the Southern African Development Community, including Angola, declared 23 March an official holiday called Southern Africa Liberation Day. The day commemorates the victory of Angolan and Cuban forces over South African forces in the battle of Cuito-Cuanavale. In 2027, Southern Africa Liberation Day falls on Tuesday 23 March. The holiday will be on Thursday 23 March in 2028. While accounts of the battle and the broader conflict are contested, the basic idea is that invaders were defeated, leading to the liberation of neighbouring Namibia and the ultimate end of apartheid in South Africa. South Africa had control over former German Southwest Africa, Namibia, at the time and was trying to put down rebel uprisings there. Communist Cuba and the USSR were supporting Communist-leaning forces in Angola and Namibia. The US, South Africa, and the West tended to support the other side. It was one major battle of the overall “Cold War” and not a random invasion of Angola by South Africa. Nonetheless, when Namibian rebels fled to find shelter in Angola and South Africa was supporting pro-Western Angolan rebels in Angola, conflict was inevitable. From November of 1987 till March of 1988, South African forces fought Cuban and Angolan forces in southern Angola but were decisively defeated on 23 March of 1988. This is a very new holiday and has no traditions as such. But awards were given out to those who had fought in the battle and were still living in the first celebration in 2019.

History

The day commemorates the victory of Angolan and Cuban forces over South African forces in the battle of Cuito-Cuanavale. While accounts of the battle and the broader conflict are contested, the basic idea is that invaders were defeated, leading to the liberation of neighbouring Namibia and the ultimate end of apartheid in South Africa. South Africa had control over former German Southwest Africa, Namibia, at the time and was trying to put down rebel uprisings there. It was one major battle of th

How It's Celebrated

In 2018, all member states of the Southern African Development Community, including Angola, declared 23 March an official holiday called Southern Africa Liberation Day. The day commemorates the victory of Angolan and Cuban forces over South African forces in the battle of Cuito-Cuanavale. The holida

Other Years

2026 Mon
23 Mar
2027 Mon
22 Mar
2028 Thu
23 Mar
2025 Sun
23 Mar
2024 Sat
23 Mar

Countries

🇦🇴 AO

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