Chris Gordon
The Angolan ambassador to the United Nations, Franca van Dunem, has accused Unita of preparing for war.
The crisis, occasioned by the rebel movement’s repeated failure to meet UN deadlines for completing peace protocols, came to a head this week with the government warning of a major increase in hostilities.
A meeting between the UN and Unita leader Jonas Savimbi on Tuesday led to new proposals from Unita, which the UN declined to reveal. Observers say the only way of averting increased military action is for Savimbi to move to the capital, Luanda.
Military observers allege that bases in the Democratic Republic of Congo house Unita’s “shadow structure”, trained by ex-South African Defence Force allies of Savimbi.
Despite the government’s strangulation of Unita’s supply lines, a web of logistics routes has been revealed by investigators.
The UN seems to have abandoned the disarmament of Unita as a priority. Instead it is calling for a breakthrough in the peace process.