In the 1987, the Angolan (FAPLA) battle plan was direct: forces would move from Cuito Cuanavale to the South and South-East towards the Lomba river, cross it and occupy the town Mavinga. Mavinga was important because of its airstrip, which would enable the AAF to support a further phase of the offensive, an advance to Jamba, UNITA’s HQ. Once Jamba fell, the expectation was UNITA would be finished. Over the years, South Africa gave military aid to UNITA, as this movement occupied the South-East corner of Angola and prevented SWAPO guerrillas from entering the Caprivi and…