This article explores the history of the first post-civil war social movement in Angola "Rede Terra" (the Land Network) launched in 2002. This civil society organizing nearly reached national proportions, motivated by the announcement of the government of its plans to enact a land reform package and inviting civil society input for the first time in Angola's history in public policy creation. It examines the historical origins of this movement during the civil war period and compares the experience to a similar movement that took place in Mozambique in the 1990s. Print and ebook editions of this work are available to purchase from Zed Books (zedbooks.net).