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The war of independence in Angola (1961-1975) was characterised by a strong military asymmetry between the Portuguese army and the liberation movements. To compensate for this, the liberation movements took numerous actions at local, regional and international levels. Their quest for recognition included taking charge of the medical needs of the population and the combatants. By taking up the issue of healthcare, the liberation movements sought to justify their struggle on the one hand, and to delegitimise the Portuguese presence on the other. This article examines the efforts made locally and internationally by the MPLA and FNLA to meet the medical and social needs of civilian refugees or the wounded, and of the combatants, first in the two Congos (1961-1963), then in Angola (1963-1970s). It concludes by showing that the creation of healthcare structures enabled the liberation movements to obtain material and financial resources, as well as a form of legitimacy on the international stage.