Robin Wright in Luanda
UNITED STATES Secretary of State Warren Christopher flew into this war-ravaged capital this week to try to jump-start the process to end one of the world’s deadliest conflicts.
But the visit from the highest-ranking US official since Angola became independent in 1975 was marred by the non-appearance of Jonas Savimbi, leader of the rebel movement known as National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita).
Christopher called for Angolan peace and said the United States “would not tolerate” any resumption of conflict by Unita during its talks with the freely elected government of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. “With the UN leaving in a matter of months, it is imperative that both sides move more rapidly to meet their obligations,” Christopher said.
Unita, which was a funnel for US covert aid in the 1970s and 1980s when Angola was a Cold War battleground with the Soviet Union, has fallen significantly behind in both political and military compliance with a 1994 peace accord, signed in Lusaka.
Savimbi said he did not meet Christopher in Luanda because of security concerns; one of his demobilised generals was killed there weeks ago. But the US delegation downplayed this concern, saying it was no reason to boycott the meeting.
Peace now hangs in the balance, with UN troops in the world’s most expensive peace- keeping operation due to begin withdrawing in April.
“We are obviously concerned as are others, about the delays in the process and the impact of those delays on the confidence and the future process of implementation of the peace agreement,” Under-Secretary of State Edwin Moose told reporters travelling with Christopher.
Although Angola is among the world’s most war-racked countries, it also has oil and diamond riches.
Investment in Angola by US oil corporations totals $4-billion – and is expected to grow in the next decade as new areas are exploited, according to US officials.
Because of these interests, Washington has played a key diplomatic and financial role in the Angolan peace process, underwriting 25% of the $1-million-a-day peacekeeping operation and pledging $190-million more last year to support development and reconstruction, demobilisation of warring troops, de-mining and food aid.
“The stakes [in Angola] are huge,” a senior administration official told reporters. “It’s the last piece of the puzzle in Southern Africa. If it’s peaceful and stable, Angola can emerge as an engine for economic growth for the subregion and beyond.”
But the challenges here are equally huge. There were up to 20-million land mines planted here during the conflict. More than 70 000 Angolans are amputees. More than 500 000 of Angola’s 10-million people have died since rival militias began fighting each other in 1975.
Savimbi also has yet to participate in forming a national coalition government, which was scheduled to be functioning by mid-1996. The 36 Unita law-makers elected in 1992 have not taken up their seats, nor have Unita officials arrived in Luanda to assume their four allocated ministries.