The government is ready to open talks with armed separatist groups in Cabinda on limited autonomy for the oil-rich Angolan enclave, a senior official said on Thursday.
However, Joao Lourenco, secretary-general of Angola’s ruling party, ruled out full independence for the province wedged between Congo and the Republic of Congo where foreign oil companies produce about
700 000 barrels of crude per day.
”It depends what they want to talk about,” Lourenco said, referring to recent appeals from one of the armed groups to open negotiations.
”If their position is that Cabinda is part of Angola and we can consider some sort of autonomy for that part of our national territory, then fine,” Lourenco said in an interview with radio station Luanda Antena Comercial.
But he said independence was unacceptable and also ruled out mediation. Nzita Tiago, leader of a guerrilla group known by its Portuguese acronym FLEC-FAC, appealed earlier this week for mediated talks to end fighting in Cabinda.
Tiago suggested the Roman Catholic Church or Portugal, Angola’s former colonial ruler, could mediate.
Another separatist group, known as FLEC Renovada, has not commented on possible talks.
Tiago and church officials in Cabinda recently have reported a new offensive by the government army to root out guerrillas. In mainland Angola, the government and rebel group Unita ended their two-decade civil war in April.
Cabinda was declared Angolan territory in the 1975 accords that granted Angola independence from Portugal. Separatists then began fighting Luanda’s rule.
US and French oil companies have invested billions of dollars in recent years in offshore exploration in Cabindan waters. Cabindan oil provides most of the government’s revenue. – Sapa-AP