The FNLA, or National Liberation Front of Angola, is a political and military organization that played a significant role in Angola's struggle for independence from Portuguese colonial rule. Founded in 1962, the FNLA aimed to unite various Angolan ethnic groups against colonialism and later against rival factions during the Angolan Civil War. After Angola gained independence in 1975, the FNLA became one of the main parties involved in the civil conflict, opposing the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). The FNLA's influence has waned over the years, but it remains a notable part of Angola's history and political landscape.