Wars involving the Cape Verde Islands

Cape Verde has participated in several wars throughout history. Here are the important ones:

1. World War II (1939-1945): While Cape Verde was a Portuguese colony, it maintained Portugal's neutral policy and therefore did not officially participate in the war. However, Portugal was allied with England, and Cape Verde indirectly contributed to the war by hosting British military bases.

2. Angolan War of Independence (1961-1974): While the Cape Verde Islands were a Portuguese colony, they supported Portugal in the Angolan War of Independence. Soldiers from the islands fought against Angolan guerrillas and tried to protect Portugal's colonial rule.

3. Independence movements in Sub-Saharan Africa (1960s-1970s): When Cape Verde was a Portuguese colony, it supported Portugal against the independence movements of other Portuguese colonies in Sub-Saharan Africa. During this period, soldiers from the islands fought against guerrillas in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

4. Angolan Civil War (1975-2002): Cape Verde supported the Angolan government when civil war broke out in Angola in 1975, when Portugal gained independence. Military units from the islands were sent to Angola to assist the Angolan government.

5. Bissau-Guinea War of Independence (1963-1974): Cape Verde supported Portugal in the Bissau-Guinea War of Independence, when Guinea-Bissau was a Portuguese colony. Soldiers from the islands fought against Guinea-Bissau guerrillas and tried to protect Portugal's colonial rule. These wars played an important role in the history of the Cape Verde Islands and were effective in the process of the islands' annexation to Portugal.