The Portuguese Colonial War, also known as Overseas War in Portugal or, in the former colonies, as the War of Liberation, is fought between Portugal's military and the emerging nationalist movements in Portugal's African colonies between 1961 and 1974.

It is a decisive ideological struggle and armed conflict of the cold war in African (Portuguese Africa and surrounding nations) and European (mainland Portugal) scenarios.

Unlike other European nations, the Portuguese regime does not leave its African colonies, or the overseas provinces (províncias ultramarinas), during the 1950s and 1960s.

During the 1960s, various armed independence movements, most prominently led by communist parties who cooperate under the CONCP umbrella and pro US groups, become active in these areas, most notably in Angola, Mozambique, and Portuguese Guinea.

During the war, several atrocities are committed by all forces involved in the conflict.The end of the war after the Carnation Revolution military coup of April 1974 in Lisbon, results in the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Portuguese citizens, including military personnel, of European, African and mixed ethnicity from the newly independent African territories to Portugal.

Over 1 million Portuguese or persons of Portuguese descent leave these former colonies.

Devastating civil wars also follow in Angola and Mozambique, which lasts several decades and claims millions of lives and refugees.

The former colonies become worse off after independence.

Economic and social recession, corruption, poverty, inequality and failed central planning, erode the initial impetus of nationalistic fervor.

A level of economic development comparable to what had existed under Portuguese rule, becomes the goal of the independent territories.

Portugal had been the first European power to establish a colony in Africa when it captured Ceuta in 1415 and now it is one of the last to leave.

The former Portuguese territories in Africa become sovereign states with Agostinho Neto in Angola, Samora Machel in Mozambique and Luís Cabral in Guinea-Bissau, as heads of state.