Tangeni Amupadhi
Pressure is mounting on the Namibian government to reverse a decision that has plunged the country into the middle of the Angolan civil war.
Namibian churches have joined organisations and individuals who criticised the authorities for allowing the Angolan armed forces (FAA) to use Namibia as a launch pad for its offensive on the rebel movement Unita. Church leaders, who represent more than 90% of the Namibian population, held emergency talks with President Sam Nujoma this week to let him know they were not pleased with Namibia supporting a military solution rather than dialogue among Angola’s warring parties.
Although Namibia had long backed the Angolan government in its 25-year civil war against Unita, the support did not include military assistance. But four months ago, Namibia announced it would “give logistical support” to the Angolan army in its latest full-scale military offensive to annihilate Unita.
Since then the Angolan civil war has spilled over to Namibia, leading to several attacks on villagers and motorists in north-eastern Namibia. More than 15 Namibians have been killed in separate incidents by unidentified gunmen. On Sunday around 30 people, including civilians, were shot dead by a group of about 50 suspected Unita rebels who attacked Santa Clara, an Angolan town which is pegged on the border with Oshikango in Namibia.
Church leaders said war “does not appear to bring peace to Angola, but rather the war to Namibia. For the people living in the northern part, the situation is neither normal nor under control.”
The churches asked Nujoma not to provide bases to the Angolan army and that the FAA not be allowed to operate from Namibian soil.
Nujoma reportedly told the church leaders that the Angolan army was not based in Namibia, a notable shift from his earlier statement that Windhoek would give any kind of support to Luanda.
Nujoma is also said to have encouraged the churches to help broker peace between belligerents of the Angolan civil war, despite the fact that both Angolan and Namibian authorities made it clear they were not interested in talking to Jonas Savimbi, who is largely blamed for the collapse of several peace efforts.
Social life in parts of Namibia has been disrupted with some children and teachers boycotting schools in Kavango, demanding that Angolan troops be withdrawn. About 8 000 refugees have streamed into Namibia, adding to the already strained social services.
l In the wake of the Mail & Guardian revelation last month that Britain has been supplying spare parts for Hawk jets used by Zimbabwe in the Congo war, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has ordered a tightening of arms exports to countries involved in the civil war. Blair said British companies wanting to export arms to the Congo and the six surrounding countries will be subject to new rules.