Rhodesian Bush War

civil conflict in Southern Africa from 1964 to 1979

The Rhodesian Bush War was a civil war in the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from 1964 to 1979.

Rhodesia in 1965. Rhodesia (green), Rhodesia's allies (purple) and Rhodesia's opponents (orange).
Rhodesia in 1975. Rhodesia (green), Rhodesia's allies (purple) and Rhodesia's opponents (orange).

It was a triangular war. It was fought between the white Government of Rhodesia, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (which was the military wing of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union), and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army of Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union.

Rhodesia was supported by Estado Novo (Portugal) until 1974 and Apartheid South Africa.

After the war ended in 1979, Southern Rhodesia became independent as Zimbabwe in 1980.