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afrol News, 5 March - According to a statement by the Angolan armed forces, the man who followed Jonas Savimbi as the leader of the Angolan rebels UNITA "passed away a few days ago." Jonas Savimbi himself died in battle on 22 February and there has been hope his death may lead to the end of decades of civil war in Angola. UNITA vice-president António Dembo was made leader of the dreaded Angolan rebel movement after the death of Savimbi. The Angolan armed forces on Monday however announced Dembo had "passed away a few days ago in eastern Moxico province" in a communiqué. The release says the death of Dembo was confirmed by a recently captured UNITA member who claims he witnessed Dembo's burial and offered to show the place. An army team has been set up to visit the place where Dembo remains supposedly were buried. UNITA itself has not wished to comment the supposed death of Dembo. The Portuguese radio RDP today reported it had been in contact with several "contacts with UNITA" but that all had "remained silent" on the matter. Nobody wanted to "give whatever comment on this information." The captured UNITA member was quoted as saying Dembo had gone physically weakened by a disease he was suffering from. Although Dembo was known to be in bad health, local reporters hold he was wounded in the battles that killed Savimbi and several of his leading followers and that Dembo probably died of these wounds. As UNITA has made no statements on Dembo's alleged death, his succession remains uncertain. It is however believed Dembo will be succeeded by UNITA's Secretary General Paulo Lukamba, better known as "General Gato" (cat). While Dembo was frequently mentioned as a moderate who could have been declined towards a peaceful solution to the conflict, "General Gato" often has been identified in the past as a hawk. Chief of Staff Geraldo Abreu "Kamorteiro" is also mentioned as a possible successor. Dembo's supposed death therefore could mean a setback in the peace process Savimbi's death was hoped to lead to. Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos only yesterday announced there had been contacts with UNITA to reach a ceasefire. The Angolan Army assistant chief of staff, General Geraldo Sachipengo "Nunda" yesterday called on remaining UNITA rebel troops to stop fighting and surrender to government authorities in order to be reintegrated into national democratic process. "The effective ending of war is for soon, and it depends solely on the remnant generals of UNITA forces formerly led by Jonas Savimbi", General Nunda said. Speaking to 'Nacao Coragem' television program, the general stressed that the ending of the war in Angola was probable in the wake of the UNITA leader's death. "Savimbi was the only one who had the strings of contacts with foreign entities, the only one who had money, the only one who had control of all of UNITA life. Then, with his death the situation is almost solved by some 90 per cent with the remaining 10 per cent depending on the efforts of all Angolans efforts". UNITA under Dembo's leadership had however not shown signs to lay down its weapons - probably mostly because Savimbi's death was such a recent development that a sudden change of policy would have questioned Dembo's leadership. Feelings were also hard over the news that Savimbi may have been executed by the Angolan army. According to a "source within European secrete services" talking to the Portuguese weekly journal 'Independente', Savimbi had been captured in a surprise manoeuvre by the Angolan Army. He had then been executed by North Korean mercenaries on strict orders from Luanda, not wanting Savimbi as a prisoner. Savimbi, according to the source, was captured on 18 February; four days before his death. UNITA's first communiqués after the death of Savimbi had also been defiant and angry. "Anyone who thinks that the ideals of UNITA died with its leader is mistaken," said a UNITA statement of 24 February. With or without Savimbi's death, however, UNITA has been fighting windmills over the last year. The Luanda government, finally backed by the entire international community, has managed to beat the rebels in field, economically and politically. Politically, in Angola and outside, the government is seen as the only serious alternative in the country. Economically, UNITA's diamond trade, financing its military campaigns, has been limited through international sanctions and territorial losses. Military, UNITA has lost ground in all parts of the country, only remaining strong in Moxico Province. Additionally, large numbers of high and low ranking UNITA officials have deserted the rebels, making use of the government's amnesty. Dembo's alleged death makes the possibilities of a quick Angolan peace uncertain. Even supposed hardliners such as "General Gato" - without the contacts and weight of Savimbi - will however have to see that the rebels' fight is a lost case. Sources: Angolan government, press reports and afrol archives
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