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Operation Merlyn
Operation Merlyn
Operation Merlyn (aka The Nine Day War) was a military operation by the South African Defence Force (SADF),
South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) and South West African Police (SWAPOL) during the South African
Border War and Angolan Civil War in April 1989. The aim of the operation was to prevent the incursion of PLAN
(SWAPO) insurgents into South West Africa/Namibia from bases in Angola. These incursions were in violation
of a ceasefire which came into effect on 1 April 1989 via the implementation of United Nations Security Council
Resolution 435 and the Tripartite Accord. Initially these PLAN incursions were tackled by South West African police
units and eventually by SADF and SWATF units, released to assist the police having been confined to their bases by
the peace agreements. These incursions and the conflict that resulted, ended after hastily arranged talks resulted in
the Mount Etjo Declaration and an eventual ceasefire.
34.1 Background
On 22 December 1988, at the United Nations (UN) in New York, the South African, Cuban and Angolan government
representatives met to sign the New York Accords better known as the Tripartite Accords.[1]:254 This represented
the end of twelve rounds of negotiations between three parties which had started on 3 May 1988, chaired by the
American representative Chester Crocker and attended by officials from the Soviet Union.[1]:230 The end of twelve
rounds of negotiations saw an agreement that linked the implementation of United Nations Council Resolution 435
with the withdrawal of all Cuban soldiers from Angola.[1]:255 The agreement saw the initial withdrawal of 3000
Cuban soldiers followed by movement of troops further north in Angola, then staggered withdrawals from Angola
resulting in all troops gone by 1 July 1991.[1]:255 The date for the implementation UN Resolution 435 was the 1 April
1989.[1]:255 The agreement did not however end the conflict between two Angolan adversaries in the Angolan Civil
War, the MPLA and UNITA.[1]:255 United Nations verification of the Cuban withdrawal and the creation of a Joint
Monitoring Commission was also agreed too. The UN created a timetable of actions over seven months required by
all parties leading up to 1 April and beyond. SADF forces were to be reduced to 12000 men by six weeks before the
1 April and confined to two bases in SWA/Namibia before being reduced to 1500 men twelve weeks later.[2] SWATF
and the area-forces were to be demobilised and their arms and ammunition placed under guard.[2] PLAN forces
were also to remain confined to their bases from the 1 April.[2] Law and order would remain with SWA Police with
UNTAG international police members monitoring their impartiality.[2] UNTAG’s military component was only set
to arrive at the end April beginning of May and they would monitor both the SADF and PLAN.[2] By the 14 March
1989, the UN Secretary General sent letters to the South African’s and SWAPO proposing that on 1 April at 04h00,
a ceasefire and the end of cross border movements into and out of Namibia, would come into being.[2] The Secretary
General’s proposal was agreed too by SWAPO on 18 March and 21 March by the South African government.[2]
34.2 Order of Battle
34.2.1 South African and South West Africa Territorial forces
• South West African Police and Koevoet
• 101 Battalion
• 102 Battalion
• elements 61 Mechanised Battalion
• Other Area Force units
• SAAF helicopters
34.2.2 PLAN/SWAPO forces
• 1500 – 1800 insurgents
34.3 SWAPO border violations begin
On the 31 March, Marti Ahtisaari, UN Special Representative to UNTAG arrived in Windhoek and a dinner was held
that night by the South African Administrator for SWA, Louis Pienaar, the night before the implementation of UN
Resolution 435.[3]:428[2] Present were SWA officials, South African government ministers, United Nations officials and
the commander of United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG).[3]:428 The South African Foreign Minister
Pik Botha informed Marti Ahtisaari that South African Military Intelligence had been monitoring the presence of
500-700 PLAN soldiers north of the South West African (SWA) border and that 150 PLAN insurgents had already
crossed the border contrary to the New York Agreement of 1988, which stipulated that PLAN remain in Angola,
north of the 16th parallel.[3]:428 The PLAN insurgents were said to be heavily armed and in uniform.[2] Marti Ahtisaari
did not believe SWAPO would violate the treaty and therefore did not believe Pik Botha’s briefing, but still informed
the UN Secretary General of the allegations.[3]:428
34.4 Clashes occur
On the night of 31 March / 1 April a thousand PLAN insurgents were stationed just north of the border.[4]:180 They
carried personal weapons and heavy arms in the form of SAM-7’s, mortars and RPG-7’s and infiltrated at a number
of places over 300 km apart. Some entered near Ruacana and other around Ombalantu eventually widening to a
300 km front.[4]:180 SWA Police units had been patrolling the border area since January and made first contact with a
PLAN unit around 6am on 1 April.[4]:181 Thirty PLAN insurgents and two policemen died in that first contact.[4]:181 As
more and more contacts took place and fierce fighting begun, the SWA Police units realised that a major incursion was
underway.[4]:181 Initially the South African Air Force (SAAF) Alouette helicopter gunships stood by helplessly and
watched the SWAPOL units come under attack but their orders would soon change and they would be rearmed.[5]:Chp16
The policemen were also under armed, their vehicles had their heavy weapons removed as part of the ceasefire, and
only had their light weapons to defend themselves.[3]:429 Foreign Minister Pik Botha phoned Secretary General Perez
de Cuellar to inform him that SWAPOL could not prevent the incursions and if UNTAG could not contain the
situation, the confined SADF units would be released from the their bases.[2] Marti Ahtisaari reluctantly agreed to
release a limited number of SADF units after UNTAG members flew into border zone and confirmed the incursions
by PLAN insurgents, a decision which he would be criticised for later.[4]:181 101 Battalion was the first unit to have its
troops recalled and rearmed.[4]:182 102 Battalion, SAAF helicopter gunships and 61 Mechanised Battalion’s Ratel-90’s
would soon follow.[3]:432
By 2 April, UNTAG officials were able to interview two PLAN insurgents that had been captured the day before and
would be presented to the media the following day.[2][4]:182 They informed the UNTAG officials that they had been
instructed by their commanders to enter SWA/Namibia, avoid South African security forces and set up bases which
were to be under UN management.[2] SWAPO said meanwhile, it had not violated the ceasefire and that its personnel
were already based in Namibia, had been attacked and wanted to hand their weapons over to UNTAG, while the
South African government maintained that the PLAN was continuing to cross the border.[2] At the end of 2 April,
the death toll stood at 130 PLAN insurgents and 10 SWA policemen.[4]:181
The UN Secretary General addressed the Security Council on 3 April concluding that SWAPO had infiltrated across
the border violating the ceasefire but that their intention was to surrender to UNTAG, even though SWAPO main-
tained their previous argument that no infiltration had taken place, he urged restraint by both parties and the imple-
mentation of all agreements.[2] The two captured PLAN solidiers that were interviewed by UNTAG on 2 April were
presented to the press for interviews on 3 April.[4]:182
By 4 April the death toll stood at 172 PLAN insurgents and 21 SWA policemen.[4]:182 The South African For-
eign Minister Pik Botha stated to the Secretary-General, that more than 1000 PLAN insurgents had crossed into
SWA/Namibia, with more PLAN forces based on the border and were ready to cross.[2] He said unless something
was done now, the peace agreements could collapse.[2]
On the 5 April, the UN Secretary General proposed a ceasefire to SWAPO and the South African government. The
details proposed the setting up of assembly points for PLAN insurgents to gather at and then returned to Angola or
disarmed allowed to go to their homes in SWA/Namibia.[2] Within in 48 hours of the ceasefire, SADF and SWATF
members would be returned and confined to their bases.[2] Pik Botha, South African Foreign Minister, informed the
UN Secretary General that PLAN insurgents were being notified by radio to return to Angola with safe passage to
areas north of 16th Parallel, which was the agreement prior to the 1 April.[2]
On 6 April the death toll stood at 179 PLAN insurgents and 22 SWA policemen and 1 SADF/SWATF soldier.[4]:183
An emergency summit of African Front-line States, on the same day, agreed with the UN Secretary General’s cease-
fire proposal, but requested that the PLAN insurgents remain at the assembly points until the SWAPO leadership
themselves return to SWA/Namibia.[2] By 7 April, UN member countries began to increase their efforts to speed
up the arrival of UNTAG forces in Namibia.[2] The UN Secretary General’s 5 April proposed ceasefire, with the
SADF/SWATF members confined to bases with 48 hours, was rejected by South Africans as it failed to take account
of all existing agreements, the PLAN insurgents were supposed to be beyond the 16th Parallel.[2] PLAN insurgents
continued to stream across the border and the SADF security forces encountered two groups close to Oshakati, one
containing 200 insurgents in trenches.[4]:183 The death toll at the end of the day stood at 253 PLAN insurgents and
26 policemen and SADF/SWATF members.[4]:183
34.5 Mt Etjo Declaration
8 April saw Sam Nujoma announce that SWAPO had instructed PLAN insurgents in SWA/Namibia to stop fighting
and regroup to withdraw under UNTAG escort to Angola. This would occur in 72 hours.[2] At the same time, the
South African government temporarily stopped the implementation of Resolution 435 and reintroduced curfew in
the border area and reactivated the area force units.[4]:183 On the same day, the Joint Monitoring Commission made
up of the South African, Cuban and Angolan representatives met at a game ranch at Mount Etjo, with American and
Soviet observers.[4]:183 The UN Namibian representatives were invited on the 9 April. By the end of this day, 261
PLAN insurgents had died.[4]:183
The 9 April resulted in Mount Etjo Declaration which had been agreed to by all those parties present.[2] The dec-
laration stated that all parties agreed to the existing peace agreements and that PLAN insurgents withdraw to nine
border assembly points maintained by UNITAG forces, to be in place by 11 April, and then transported to places
above the 16th Parallel in Angola.[4]:183 PLAN insurgents would be given a weeks grace to arrive at these assembly
points while South African forces would not attack unless they were attacked first.[4]:183 Only a few arrived at these
points with most choosing to cross the border on their own, not trusting the declaration and more PLAN insurgents
would die because of this.[4]:183[2]
34.6 SADF/SWATF reconfined to bases
At a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Commission (JMC) in northern Namibia on 20 April, it was agreed to return
SADF and SWATF units to their bases in seven days.[2] On 26 April, that agreement was implemented and SADF &
SWATF units were confined to their bases for three days to allow PLAN insurgents to leave Namibia and return to
Angola.[4]:184 A goodwill gesture by the South Africans on 26 April saw the release of 34 captured PLAN insurgents
but 289 had been killed by this stage and 27 SWAPOL, SWATF and SADF members had died.[4]:184 In Cape Town,
at a meeting from 27 to 29 April, of South African, Cuban and Angolan representatives, the 13 May was the agreed
date when SADF and SWATF units would be confined to bases though this was not entirely acceptable to the UN
Secretary General.[4]:184[2]
34.7 SADF/SWATF forces released again
On 29 April, 200-400 PLAN insurgents were said to remain in Ovamboland and the South African forces were
again released from their base with more PLAN insurgents killed after 28 April until 13 May.[4]:184 The final
death toll climbed to 306 PLAN insurgents while on the South African side, had been finalized at 20 policemen,
5 SADF/SWATF members and over 100 wounded.[4]:184[3]:432 The South Africans were worried about a further
PLAN incursion around 4 May but it failed to materialise.[4]:184
34.8 Peace returns
On 19 May the South African’s, Angolan’s and Cuban’s released a statement stating that all SADF/SWATF units
were now confined to base and that the fighting was over and the implementation of UN Resolution 435 and the
independence process would resume.[4]:184
34.9 Aftermath
By the 26 June, the SADF had withdrawn all its troops except for 1500 soldiers who were confined to their bases
at Grootfontein and Oshivelo and would remain there until a week after the announcement of the election result.[2]
Due to the vastness of the Namibian countryside, the election day voting was spread from 7 to 11 November.[2]
Ballot counting begun on the 13 November.[2] By the 14 November, the United Nations Special Representative for
Namibia, Martti Ahtisaari, declared the election as free and fair and announced the result.[6] The result of the election
left SWAPO as the winner of the election with 57.3% of the vote, Democratic Turnhalle Alliance 28.6 %, United
Democratic Front 5.6% and the Action Christian National received 3.5%.[6] By the 21 November 1989, the last
remaining 1500 soldiers of the South African Defense Force, based at Grootfontein and Oshivelo, were withdrawn
from Namibia.[2] On the 21 March 1990, an independence ceremony was held in Namibian capital of Windhoek.[7]
In attendance was South African President FW de Klerk who watched the lowering of the South African flag and the
raising of the new Namibian flag.[7] The new Namibian President Sam Nujoma was then sworn in by UN Secretary
General Perez de Cuellar.[7]
34.10 References
[1] George, Edward (2005). The Cuban intervention in Angola : 1965-1991 : from Che Guevara to Cuito Cuanavale (1. Publ.
Ed.). London [u.a.]: Frank Cass. ISBN 0415350158.
[2] “Namibia – UNTAG Background”. United Nations. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
[3] Scholtz, Leopold (2013). The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989. Cape Town: Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-05410-8.
[4] Steenkamp, Willem (1989). South Africa’s border war, 1966-1989. Gibraltar: Ashanti Pub. ISBN 0620139676.
[5] Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle: The South African Air Force during the Border War (Kindle ed.). Solihull,
England: Helion & Company Ltd. ISBN 0415350158.
[6] “Namibia Rebel Group Wins Vote, But It Falls Short of Full Control”. The New York Times. 15 November 1989. Retrieved
2014-06-20.
[7] “Namibia Achieves Independence After 75 Years of Pretoria’s Rule”. The New York Times. 21 March 1990. Retrieved
2014-06-20.
34.11 Further reading
• George, Edward (2005). The Cuban intervention in Angola : 1965-1991 : from Che Guevara to Cuito Cuanavale
(1. Publ. Ed.). London [u.a.]: Frank Cass. ISBN 0415350158.
• Hamann, Hilton (2001). Days of the generals (1st ed. Ed.). Cape Town: Zebra. ISBN 978-1868723409.
• Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle: The South African Air Force during the Border War. Solihull,
England: Helion & Company Ltd. ISBN 9781908916624.
• Scholtz, Leopold (2013). The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989. Cape Town: Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-
05410-8.
• Steenkamp, Willem (1989). South Africa’s border war, 1966-1989. Gibraltar: Ashanti Pub. ISBN 0620139676.
34.12. TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES
103
34.12 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses
34.12.1 Text
• List of operations of the South African Border War Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20operations%20of%20the%
20South%20African%20Border%20War?oldid=629420563 Contributors: IZAK, Frank Shearar, Elf-friend, Jcw69, FayssalF, Kirill Lok-
shin, Deon Steyn, Colonies Chris, Yosy, Cydebot, Socrates2008, Addbot, Farawayman, Conlinp, Tiomkin, Aliwal2012, Acumenwrite and
Anonymous: 8
• Operation Savannah (Angola) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Savannah%20(Angola)?oldid=646119513 Contrib-
utors: IZAK, Docu, Dimadick, DocWatson42, Elf-friend, Jcw69, Klemen Kocjancic, Kwamikagami, Woohookitty, Rjwilmsi, Eubot,
Ground Zero, Czar, Dysmorodrepanis, BoonDock, Nick-D, SmackBot, Bluebot, John, Ewulp, Namiba, Haneul, Richard Keatinge, Cy-
debot, Viciouspiggy, JustAGal, IrishPete, NJR ZA, Raoulduke47, Sundar1, ObseloV, Sadness Sa, Gbawden, Dodger67, Excirial, Bernd
Jendrissek, Socrates2008, XLinkBot, Heavenlyblue, Farawayman, Yobot, Reenem, AnomieBOT, Wikieditoroftoday, Citation bot, An-
otherclown, Ularx, 1SSB24B, Cmco24b, DrilBot, Martinvl, DocYako, Conlinp, Ego White Tray, Michaelmas1957, Helpful Pixie Bot,
PhnomPencil, Katangais, Reditalianwolf, Macofe and Anonymous: 32
• Operation Bruilof Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Bruilof?oldid=617158178 Contributors: IZAK, Elf-friend, Jcw69,
Rjwilmsi, Jaraalbe, SmackBot, Namiba, AndrewHowse, Cydebot, The Anomebot2, Kevinsam, Adamdaley, Perspicacite, Lightbot, Con-
linp, BattyBot and Anonymous: 1
• Operation Seiljag Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Seiljag?oldid=612511380 Contributors: IZAK, Dimadick, Elf-
friend, Mboverload, Wmahan, Rjwilmsi, SmackBot, Namiba, Cydebot, The Anomebot2, Kevinsam, Perspicacite, Lightbot, Chenoeh and
Anonymous: 1
• Operation Reindeer Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Reindeer?oldid=639025564 Contributors: IZAK, Dimadick,
Elf-friend, Hammersfan, Jcw69, Darren Olivier, Gene Nygaard, Eubot, CalJW, BoonDock, SmackBot, Mairibot, Bluebot, Arnomd, John,
Namiba, Cydebot, Jed, The Anomebot2, JaGa, Kevinsam, Sundar1, Xyl 54, Gbawden, WereSpielChequers, Perspicacite, Socrates2008,
John Nevard, Addbot, Lotje, Conlinp, Katangais, Asd36f, Bigdog2000 and Anonymous: 3
• Operation Vanity Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Vanity?oldid=645315481 Contributors: Chris the speller and Con-
linp
• Operation Rekstok Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Rekstok?oldid=645712742 Contributors: IZAK, PaulinSaudi,
Dimadick, SmackBot, Namiba, Cydebot, The Anomebot2, JaGa, Kevinsam, Gbawden, Perspicacite, Lightbot, Conlinp and Anonymous:
1
• Operation Safraan Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Safraan?oldid=612511137 Contributors: IZAK, PaulinSaudi,
Dimadick, SmackBot, Namiba, Cydebot, The Anomebot2, Kevinsam, Gbawden, Perspicacite, Niceguyedc, Lightbot, Conlinp, BG19bot,
DirkOnTheBushWar and Anonymous: 3
• Operation Klipklop Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Klipklop?oldid=609202604 Contributors: The Anome, Frank
Shearar, PaulinSaudi, Malcolma, SmackBot, Namiba, Cydebot, Magioladitis, The Anomebot2, Gbawden, Socrates2008, LilHelpa, Brad101AWB,
Erik9bot, Conlinp and Anonymous: 2
• Operation Konyn Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Konyn?oldid=646938180 Contributors: Ground Zero, Chris the
speller, Nick Number, DagosNavy, Peridon, Yobot, Patchy1, SDPatrolBot, Conlinp, ChrisGualtieri and Anonymous: 1
• Operation Protea Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Protea?oldid=649576743 Contributors: IZAK, Frank Shearar,
Dimadick, Elf-friend, Jcw69, Darren Olivier, LordAmeth, Ground Zero, SmackBot, Slashme, Schmiteye, Skapur, Namiba, Cydebot,
Gbawden, Perspicacite, Namronb, Reenem, Citation bot, Adriana Oosthuysen, Anotherclown, FrescoBot, John of Reading, Conlinp,
Katangais, Mogism and Anonymous: 9
• Operation Kerslig Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Kerslig?oldid=645713118 Contributors: Kevinsam, Conlinp and
Jodosma
• Operation Super Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Super?oldid=640582372 Contributors: IZAK, Dimadick, Wave-
length, SmackBot, Bazonka, Levineps, Namiba, Cydebot, Nick Number, Tatrgel, Halmstad, Gbawden, Perspicacite, Mojoworker, Socrates2008,
Lightbot, Yobot, AnomieBOT, LilHelpa, Jesse V., Conlinp, Frietjes and Anonymous: 2
• Operation Meebos Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Meebos?oldid=645713203 Contributors: Bearcat, Ground Zero,
Nick Number, Magioladitis, Gbawden, AnomieBOT, LilHelpa, FreeRangeFrog, Conlinp, Mogism and Anonymous: 1
• Operation Phoenix (South Africa) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Phoenix%20(South%20Africa)?oldid=645713304
Contributors: Kwamikagami, Kevinsam, Keilmesser, Drpickem and Conlinp
• Operation Skerwe Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Skerwe?oldid=627674207 Contributors: Gbawden and Conlinp
• Operation Dolfyn Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Dolfyn?oldid=616729400 Contributors: Adamdaley, Conlinp and
Jim Carter
• Operation Karton Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Karton?oldid=645713378 Contributors: Conlinp
• Operation Klinker Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Klinker?oldid=645713432 Contributors: Conlinp
• Operation Askari Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Askari?oldid=646825024 Contributors: IZAK, Xyzzyva, Elf-
friend, Jcw69, Bobrayner, Ground Zero, Jaraalbe, Htonl, SmackBot, Chris the speller, EncMstr, Dl2000, Namiba, Cydebot, DagosNavy,
VoABot II, Buckshot06, Gbawden, Perspicacite, Ark2120, Auntof6, JohnCdeKock, Dthomsen8, Westcoast.kiwi, Lightbot, 4talisman,
Anotherclown, Full-date unlinking bot, Jesse V., Rabbabodrool, Conlinp, BG19bot, MajCat, Sabossie, Katangais, Parabat0333, Doc-
torKubla and Anonymous: 8
• Operation Boswilger Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Boswilger?oldid=629441116 Contributors: GoodDay, Cyde-
bot, Magioladitis, R’n’B, Gbawden, Conlinp and Anonymous: 1
• Operation Cabinda Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Cabinda?oldid=617187194 Contributors: IZAK, FayssalF, Ground
Zero, Jaraalbe, RussBot, SmackBot, Colonies Chris, Dl2000, Yosy, Namiba, Cydebot, The Anomebot2, MetsBot, JaGa, STBot, Kevin-
sam, Tatrgel, Gbawden, Brewcrewer, Socrates2008, Waide Piki, FrescoBot, Jesse V., Conlinp, Tiomkin, Helpful Pixie Bot and Anony-
mous: 4
• Operation Wallpaper Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Wallpaper?oldid=646938190 Contributors: IZAK, Dimadick,
Elf-friend, Ketiltrout, Ground Zero, Cydebot, Magioladitis, The Anomebot2, NJR ZA, Kevinsam, Katharineamy, Gbawden, Perspicacite,
YSSYguy, Farawayman, Yobot, Citation bot, Conlinp and Anonymous: 3
• Operation Cerebus Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Cerebus?oldid=629572098 Contributors: Conlinp
• Operation Southern Cross Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Southern%20Cross?oldid=609206219 Contributors: Ground
Zero, Nick Number, Anotherclown, MenoBot II, John of Reading, Conlinp, Geekyowl and Anonymous: 1
• Operation Alpha Centauri Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Alpha%20Centauri?oldid=629423944 Contributors: IZAK,
Elf-friend, Ground Zero, Jaraalbe, SmackBot, Namiba, Cydebot, Magioladitis, Buckshot06, The Anomebot2, Kevinsam, Gbawden, Per-
spicacite, M5007, XLinkBot, Addbot, Anotherclown, Dewritech, Conlinp, Aliwal2012, NBL Projects and Anonymous: 8
• Operation Moduler Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Moduler?oldid=625195968 Contributors: IZAK, Dimadick,
Elf-friend, Magicmike, Ground Zero, SmackBot, Deon Steyn, Robofish, Namiba, Cydebot, Garrethe, Faizhaider, The Anomebot2,
NJR ZA, Kevinsam, CommonsDelinker, Bnynms, Gbawden, Aturton, Dodger67, Babakathy, Paulatadventures, Socrates2008, Wdford,
SpellingBot, Lightbot, Yobot, Waldo10, Citation bot, LouriePieterse, Wilhelm Klave, PragmaticGert, Illegitimate Barrister, Helpful Pixie
Bot, TheIntrovertedDude and Anonymous: 5
• Operation Firewood Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Firewood?oldid=639158503 Contributors: Kevinsam, Yobot,
Conlinp, ChrisGualtieri and Anonymous: 1
• Operation Hooper Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Hooper?oldid=641432545 Contributors: IZAK, Dimadick, Elf-
friend, JohnC, Rjwilmsi, Ground Zero, SmackBot, Deon Steyn, Soap, Robofish, Namiba, Cydebot, The Anomebot2, Kevinsam, Gbaw-
den, Socrates2008, Wdford, Lightbot, Yobot, AnomieBOT, Citation bot, LouriePieterse, Mark Schierbecker, Full-date unlinking bot,
EricClarion, Nabeelah.Pandy, Helpful Pixie Bot and Anonymous: 3
• Operation Packer Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Packer?oldid=638151958 Contributors: IZAK, Greenman, Di-
madick, Elf-friend, SmackBot, Deon Steyn, MTBradley, Namiba, Cydebot, Buckshot06, Nyttend, The Anomebot2, Kevinsam, Perspi-
cacite, Wdford, LouriePieterse, FrescoBot, RjwilmsiBot, Conlinp, EricClarion and Anonymous: 2
• Operation Excite/Hilti Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Excite/Hilti?oldid=637811990 Contributors: Ground Zero,
Hack, Nick Number, NJR ZA, Kevinsam, Wdford, Yobot, Ammodramus, Conlinp and Anonymous: 1
• Operation Prone Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Prone?oldid=650109700 Contributors: IZAK, Dimadick, Elf-
friend, BoonDock, SmackBot, Namiba, Cydebot, Buckshot06, The Anomebot2, Kevinsam, Perspicacite, Ktr101, Lightbot, Conlinp and
Anonymous: 1
• Operation Displace Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Displace?oldid=645713503 Contributors: IZAK, Greenman,
Dimadick, Elf-friend, SmackBot, Looper5920, Ohconfucius, Werdan7, Namiba, Cydebot, Puddhe, The Anomebot2, Kevinsam, Perspi-
cacite, Gcapitalg, ClueBot, Socrates2008, Battleslash3, Lightbot, Conlinp, EricClarion, ChrisGualtieri and Anonymous: 1
• Operation Merlyn Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation%20Merlyn?oldid=632273876 Contributors: Conlinp
34.12.2 Images
• File:61Mechdead.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/61Mechdead.JPG License: CC BY 2.5 za Con-
tributors: Own work Original artist: User:Katangais
• File:Angola_location_map.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Angola_location_map.svg License: CC
BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work, using
• United States National Imagery and Mapping Agency data
• World Data Base II data
Original artist: NordNordWest
• File:Ebodead.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Ebodead.jpg License: CC BY 2.5 Contributors: Own
work Original artist: User:Katangais
• File:Ensign_of_the_South_African_Defence_Force_(1981-1994).svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/
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