Angola
Angolan army hunting down rebel leader Savimbi

afrol News, 3 April  - After the whereabouts of Angola's rebel leader Jonas Savimbi became known, the national army is hunting down the alleged "war criminal". A UNITA defector informed the Angolan government Savimbi was in Cangamba, in the eastern province of Moxico.

According to a UNITA rebel, Delfim Tchombe, which is currently interrogated by Angolan authorities in Luanda, rebel leader Savimbi is based in the Cangamba region in Moxico province, within Angola. Tchombe was quoted in today's version of the semi-official "Jornal de Angola". Savimbi is surrounded by "a considerable military force to protect him," Tchombe told the Angolan journal. 

The Portuguese news agency Lusa obtained a confirmation of this information from anonymous sources within the Angolan Armed Forces. "The UNITA leader for the last weeks has been moving around in a region of the country that includes the eastern parts of Bié province and the central and eastern parts of Moxico province," Lusa informed. 

The same military sources told Lusa that Savimbi, in addition to the military forces protecting him, also seeks protection among the civilian population, which he "forces to accompany him during his movements through the field." This presence of civilians is complicating an attack by the Armed Forces on Savimbi, the source told Lusa.

Nevertheless, the Angolan government, which has experienced considerable military gains against UNITA the last year, until recently had difficulties mapping the whereabouts of the rebel leader. Savimbi's movements and hideouts had been difficult to assess, as he on many occasions was based outside Angola. The Armed Force's control of border areas in neighbouring Congo Kinshasa (DRC) seems to have restricted Savimbi's freedom of movement considerably. 

While no statements have been made on plans to attack or capture Jonas Savimbi, political statements on his status are indicating that the government does not rule out Savimbi's possible forthcoming detention. Angolan Foreign Minister, Joao Bernardo de Miranda, said Thursday that Jonas Savimbi was no longer part of the country's peace process and national reconciliation.

This statement is contrary to the reconsolidating voice heard from Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos in September 2000, when he offered Savimbi pardon and an amnesty on war crimes if he would lay down his weapons. Joao Miranda now said, "Savimbi did not ask for dialogue. ... We launched the dialogue as a challenge even to him [Savimbi] once he abandons the armed option." 

- Savimbi cannot be seen as a valid partner for the peace process. We are seeing to it that other political sensitivenesses also think so, Joao Miranda said on Thursday. The minister said that the Angolan government knows that Jonas Savimbi is alive, and recalled that there is a warrant out for his arrest, because he is "a war criminal".

The statement by Miranda indicates that the Angolan government not would be willing to pardon Savimbi, based in the amnesty law on war crimes passed by the parliament, if he should be detained - or that the government wants it as a bargaining option in a possible attack on Savimbi's headquarters.

UNITA was forced out of their strongholds in 2000, and have since then failed to counter army gains. A large number of rebels, including high-ranking officers, have surrendered to the government, asking for the amnesty offered rebels laying down their weapons. According to UNITA 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.

Sources: RDP, Lusa, Angolan govt., ACTSA and afrol archives

© afrol.com. Texts and graphics may be reproduced freely, under the condition that their origin is clearly referred to, see Conditions.    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com