Angola Portugese Lizard Camo KIKO Cap Casquette size 60
Material: Cloth Camo.
Size: 60
Condition: please see photo’s
Fine and very rare original Kiko without nek part.

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Angola Special Forces Special Operations BDE Pocket Badge A
Material: Steel enamel
Size: approx. 60 x 40 mm
Reverse: Original 3 pins
Fine condition

Plate BB

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Angolan Angola 16th Brigade Special Operations BDE Beret badge
Material: Steel enamel
Size: approx. 40 x 35 mm
Reverse: Original 2 screw bolt fittings
Fine condition

Plate BB

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Angola Special Forces Special Operations Title Shoulder Badge Insigina

Material: Steel enamel
Size: approx. 75 x 20 mm
Reverse: Original 2 pins
Fine condition

Plate BB

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ANGOLA 16th Brigade Special Forces Operators Insignia badge

Material: Steel enamel
Size: approx. 61 x 37.5 mm
Reverse: Original 3 pins
Fine condition

Plate BB

The 16th Brigade of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), also known as Brigada 16 in Portuguese, is one of the elite special forces units within the Angolan military. These operators are highly trained and are often deployed for special operations that involve high-risk combat, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, intelligence gathering, and other covert missions.
Here are some key aspects of the Angolan Special Forces (Brigada 16):

1. Formation and History
• The 16th Brigade was formed during the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002), a conflict between the MPLA (People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola) government and opposition groups such as UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) and FNLA (National Front for the Liberation of Angola).
• Initially formed to conduct high-intensity operations during the war, the 16th Brigade has become a central component of the Angolan military’s modern elite forces.

2. Training
• The special forces undergo a rigorous selection process, with candidates being tested in both physical endurance and psychological resilience.
• The training includes combat tactics, survival skills, weapons proficiency, parachuting, demolitions, amphibious operations, and counter-insurgency operations.
• They also have advanced training in unconventional warfare and often receive specialized training from foreign military instructors, including from countries like Russia and Cuba, which have historically had close military relations with Angola.

3. Equipment and Weaponry
• The Angolan Special Forces are equipped with advanced military hardware. This includes a variety of small arms, machine guns, grenade launchers, sniper rifles, explosives, and armored vehicles.
• They also operate in specialized units that might use helicopters and boats for amphibious operations.
• Depending on the mission, they have access to advanced night-vision devices, communications equipment, and drones.

4. Key Operations
• While the full extent of their operational history is not always publicly disclosed due to the sensitive nature of their missions, the Angolan Special Forces have been involved in several key operations, including counter-terrorism, securing vital infrastructure, and supporting peacekeeping efforts both within Angola and in the broader Southern African region.
• The Angolan military has also deployed these operators in peacekeeping and stabilization missions in countries like São Tomé and Príncipe and Central African Republic under the auspices of the African Union and United Nations.

5. Role in Angolan Security
• They serve a critical role in counter-insurgency, tackling internal threats such as armed insurgencies and militias in the post-civil war period.
• The special forces are also involved in border security, protecting against illegal trafficking and smuggling, particularly in Angola’s resource-rich areas.

6. Cuban and Soviet Influence
• During the Angolan Civil War, both Cuban and Soviet forces played a significant role in training the Angolan military, including the special forces. This legacy is still reflected in the operational tactics, organization, and some of the equipment used by the Angolan special forces.

7. International Collaboration
• The 16th Brigade has cooperated with various African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces, often participating in peacekeeping missions across the African continent.
• Angola has also worked with countries like Russia, China, and South Africa to enhance the capabilities of its special forces.

8. Operational Roles
• While their primary role is special operations, their skillset allows them to be versatile, performing a wide range of tasks such as:
o Counter-terrorism: Dealing with extremist groups and criminal organizations.
o Hostage rescue: High-risk rescue operations, often in urban or difficult terrain.
o Surveillance and intelligence gathering: Collecting and analyzing intelligence to prevent potential threats.
o Unconventional warfare: Supporting guerrilla or asymmetric warfare tactics.

9. Notable Recognition and Reputation
• The Angolan Special Forces are known for their discipline, efficiency, and adaptability in complex combat scenarios.
• Though not as widely recognized as other global special forces, their historical performance, especially during the Civil War, has solidified their reputation in Africa and the region.

Conclusion
The 16th Brigade Special Forces of Angola remain one of the most elite units in the Angolan military, tasked with a range of critical missions, from special operations to international peacekeeping. Their legacy continues to be shaped by the lessons of war, regional cooperation, and the integration of modern military techniques and equipment.

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Angola UNITA Scuba Divers Badge trained by CIA and SADF Recce members

Trained with the CIA and SADF RECCES on SA Navy Course Y6 & Y7 at SAS Donkin for River divers
Material: Steel enamel
Size: approx. 37.7 mm
Reverse: Original 1 pin
Fine and very rare original badge

Bord AA

UNITA (União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola, or National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) is a political and former armed movement in Angola that played a major role in the country’s history, particularly during its struggle for independence and the subsequent civil war.

Background and Formation:
UNITA was founded in 1966 by Jonas Savimbi, a former member of the MPLA (Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola or People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola) who became disillusioned with the MPLA’s Marxist ideology and its leadership. Initially, UNITA’s goal was to achieve Angola’s independence from Portugal and to promote the interests of the Ovimbundu people, the second-largest ethnic group in Angola after the Mbundu.
Angolan War of Independence (1961–1975):

During the war of independence against Portuguese colonial rule, the MPLA, UNITA, and the FNLA (Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola, or National Front for the Liberation of Angola) all fought against the Portuguese. However, the three factions had differing ideologies, and even though they all shared the goal of independence, they also clashed with each other.

• UNITA primarily operated in the central and southern parts of Angola, focusing on the Ovimbundu heartland.
• MPLA was backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba, and its leadership was largely from the Mbundu ethnic group.
• FNLA was a smaller faction, supported by the United States and Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Independence and Civil War (1975–2002):
After Portugal’s revolution in 1974, which led to the end of its colonial rule in Angola, the country became independent in 1975. However, the independence process was marred by tensions between the major liberation movements, particularly the MPLA and UNITA.
• MPLA declared itself the ruling government, and it quickly aligned itself with socialist and communist powers such as the Soviet Union and Cuba.
• UNITA, led by Savimbi, rejected MPLA’s Marxist governance and formed a resistance, which led to the outbreak of the Angolan Civil War in 1975, shortly after independence.
The civil war was devastating, with UNITA, backed at various times by the United States and apartheid-era South Africa, fighting against the MPLA government, which was supported by Cuba and the Soviet Union. The war was characterized by brutal guerrilla warfare, extensive civilian casualties, and destruction of the country’s infrastructure.

End of the Civil War:
The conflict continued intermittently for almost 30 years, with several ceasefires and peace accords failing to bring lasting peace. The war reached its peak in the 1980s and early 1990s but was finally brought to an end after Jonas Savimbi’s death in 2002.
• In the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were attempts at peace, including the Bicesse Accords (1991), but full peace did not come until after Savimbi’s death.
• Savimbi was killed in a confrontation with government forces in February 2002, which paved the way for the final peace agreement and the disbandment of UNITA’s military wing.

Post-Savimbi Era and UNITA’s Role in Angola:
After Savimbi’s death, UNITA transformed from a guerrilla movement to a political party. In the years following the end of the war, the party participated in national elections and took part in Angola’s political life.
• UNITA is now a major opposition party in Angola, but its influence has diminished compared to its role during the civil war.
• Isaias Samakuva, Savimbi’s successor, has led the party since 2003, and UNITA remains one of the key players in Angola’s multi-party political system, though it has never regained the military power it once held.

Legacy:
UNITA’s legacy is controversial. While it was one of the main forces in the fight for Angola’s independence, its prolonged resistance against the MPLA government, especially during the civil war, led to immense suffering for the Angolan people. The civil war caused the deaths of an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people and displaced millions more. The scars of this conflict still affect Angola today.
• Jonas Savimbi remains a highly polarizing figure, revered by some for his leadership in the fight against communist influence but reviled by others for his role in the civil war and the atrocities committed by both sides during the conflict.
Today, UNITA continues to advocate for the rights and interests of the Ovimbundu people and other marginalized groups in Angola, and it maintains a strong stance against the ruling MPLA, which has held power since independence. However, the current political environment is more peaceful, and Angola’s focus has shifted toward economic recovery and development after the long period of war.

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Angola Army Executive Outcomes enamel badge
Material: Steel enamel
Size: approx. 61 x 37.5 mm
Reverse: Original 3 pins
Fine condition

Bord AA

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Angola Portugal MPLA AKAEM People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola_ Rare
Material: Plastic
Reverse: original fitting
Fine and very rare original condition

The MPLA fought against the Portuguese Army in the Angolan War of Independence from 1961 to 1974, and defeated the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) in the Angolan Civil War.
The party has ruled Angola since the country’s independence from Portugal in 1975, being the de facto government throughout the civil war and continuing to rule afterwards.

Box: Wood Box

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ANGOLA Hunter Company 2641 Portugal Battalion Caçadores 2860 Patch Badge 1969 – 1971
Material: Plastic
Size: approx. 90 x 70 mm
Reverse: original fitting
Fine and very rare original condition

Box: ALEX_1

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