Angola
Angolan rebels fail to counter army gains

Misanet.com / ACTSA, 29 March  - The Angolan UNITA rebels loyal to Jonas Savimbi have continued to carry out sporadic attacks on civilian targets. UNITA has portrayed these attacks as the fruits of the reorganisation of their forces since they were forced out of their strongholds in 2000. However, it is significant that despite the murder of hundreds of people over the last year, there have been no major sustained advances on the battlefield for UNITA.

Whilst some of these attacks tie down the Angolan army, FAA, to protecting civilian areas, the majority of attacks are hungry rebels looting food. The continued mine-laying by UNITA is still a matter of serious concern as it makes the roads dangerous to use, limiting the freedom of movement of the local population.

UNITA has so far been unable to hold any of the positions it has taken from FAA. At the end of February FAA retook Quibaxe, Bengo province, from UNITA, who had held the town from 17 to 23 February. According to the Portuguese Lusa news agency, UNITA killed a number of civilians during the occupation, and around 8,000 of the population are missing (presumed either to be hiding in the countryside or under UNITA control).

In some attacks UNITA failed to capture towns. According to the UN news agency, IRIN, on 28 February FAA repelled attacks by UNITA on Umpulo and Munhango in Bie province.

In other cases, UNITA managed to enter towns to search for food. Ten people were murdered in the town of Candadi, Huambo province, on 13 March by UNITA rebels who looted the town.

UNITA has managed to carry out some high profile attacks, hitting strategic targets before withdrawing. Seven people were killed and six wounded when UNITA attacked the edges of Benguela City on 12 March, during which houses were looted. UNITA also claims to have attacked the major airforce base at Catumbela on the same day.

In another attack designed to show that UNITA is spread throughout the country, sixteen people were killed when UNITA attacked the town of Calomboloca, 80 kilometres from Luanda.

Landmines continue to pose a threat to traffic. They are particularly difficult to control as they are easily transportable and only take a matter of minutes to plant. Radio Ecclesia reported that twenty people died and 27 were wounded on 28 February when a truck hit an anti-tank mine between Mungo and Huambo. One person was killed and two injured on 13 March when their vehicle hit a mine on the road from Alto Hama to Bailundo.

According to Captain Bemba Kaliato who surrendered to the Angolan authorities in Benguela City recently, UNITA troops are suffering from a lack of food and medicines, and he predicts that many more will soon surrender.

Meanwhile, continued fighting compounds suffering of Angolan civilians. During February there was an increase in the number of people fleeing fighting. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 23,511 people registered as internally displaced persons in February. In January the comparable figure was 19,663.

The majority of these new internal refugees came from Bie province (14,140) followed by Bengo (4,025) and Cuando Cubango (2,150). A large number of newly displaced people have arrived in Kuito.

The influx of newly displaced people has continued in March. Over 800 civilians have presented themselves to the local authority in Balombo from Chindumbo in the Moco mountain region.

However, the UN has warned that continuing attacks and mine laying by UNITA is hampering efforts to get food to those in need. The UN has warned that up to 10,000 people are without aid in the area due to insecurity. Most had fled from Muxluando to Quibaxe.

By Angola Peace Monitor (published by ACTSA - Action for Southern Africa)

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