WEDNESDAY, 3.30PM
ANGOLAN rebel movement Unita is preparing to launch a fresh war, according to claims made on Tuesday by a senior Unita deserter.
Colonel Rafael Kasanja claimed that Unita leader Jonas Savimbi is reorganising and strengthening his forces in the north and centre of the country. Fighting has already been reported between Unita and Angolan government troops in the diamond-rich north-east, which is currently being investigated by the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (Unavem III). The government claimed its military operation in the north-east was to protect the country’s borders with the former Zaire after Mobutu was ousted, but Unita, which controls most of the Anfolan countryside, said the offensive was a pretext to take over control of the area.
Kassanja said: “The military capability of Unita is still good and the army has good equipment that was used in Zaire,” referring to Unita’s military assistance for deposed dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. He added that two generals, close associates of Savimbi, have been appointed to command the regrouped Unita forces.
In terms of the 1994 peace agreement between Unita and the Angolan government, Unita’s estimated 70 000 troops should have been disarmed and demobilised by now. However, it is believed Unita has kept back its best soldiers and equipment.
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