/ 15 January 1999

ANGOLAN HEALTH MINISTER FIRED

ANGOLAN President Eduardo dos Santos sacked his health minister on Thursday at the request of dissident members of the Unita rebel movement. Ruben Sikato had refused to join the dissidents, who in September disavowed Unita leader Jonas Savimbi, splitting the movement. The Luanda regime has broken off relations with Savimbi and now says it recognises the dissidents as the government’s sole partner in the peace process following peace accords signed in 1994. Angola’s civil war has resumed in earnest in recent months, with both sides vowing not to give in to the other’s aggression.