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Published by ACTSA, Action for Southern Africa, on behalf of the Angola Emergency Campaign
Angolan government releases prisoners
The International Committee of the Red Cross has reported that the Angolan government has released UNITA prisoners under the terms of the Lusaka Protocol. (See ACTSA Briefing Paper: Prospects for Peace and Democracy in Angola, A Summary and Analysis of the Lusaka Protocol signed on 20 November 1994#)
On 23 May 98 prisoners were released, with a further 110 being released on 24 May.
Government envoys meet with UNITA
According to reports from the official Angolan news agency, ANGOP, two Angolan government ministers travelled on 25 May to Bailundo in the central Huambo province.
Faustino Muteka, minister without portfolio, and his deputy Higino Carneiro took with them a message for UNITA leader Dr Savimbi. They held talks with UNITA on 'outstanding military matters' regarding the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol, and issues raised during the meeting in Lusaka on 6 May between President dos Santos and Dr Savimbi. Also discussed were some 'political ideas' on the next meeting between the President and Dr Savimbi.
Telephone links President to Savimbi
Following the meeting between President dos Santos and Dr Savimbi on 6 May in Lusaka, a direct telephone link has been established between the two.
According to ANGOP, Savimbi used the service to contact the President on 17 May to inform him of the pending visit to South Africa, and on 20 May to inform him of the outcome of that visit.
Further troop deployment
The first contingent of infantry troops deployed in Angola under UNAVEM III arrived on 31 May. According to a report from Associated Press, 380 Uruguayan infantrymen have arrived.
This follows the arrival in Luanda on 26 May of 87 Portuguese soldiers specialising in communications. Their task is to maintain communications links between Luanda and the six UNAVEM general staffs.
The Brazilian Ambassador to Angola said on 29 May that 1,200 troops from Brazil would arrive shortly in Angola.
Bridges re-opened
The overland convoy to the sixth special meeting of the Joint Commission, held in Lobito on 18 May co- incided with the official re-opening of the newly rebuilt Canjala bridge in Kwanza Sul province.
The bridge was inaugurated by Brito Junior, Minister of Public Works and Town Planning, and the UN Secretary-General's Special-Representative in Angola, Alioune Blondin Beye.
The Lucala bridge, 270km east of Luanda, has also been rebuilt, giving access to the provinces of Malanje, Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul, Moxico and Uige. This was inaugurated on 28 April.
Joint Commission to meet
The next meeting of the Joint Commission is planned to take place on 2 June in Negage, in Uige province.
Humanitarian situation
The United Nations has reported that the humanitarian situation in Angola is improving.
The latest report on Humanitarian Assistance in Angola, from the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs#, covering the period 15 - 21 May states in summary that:
As overland access continues to increase, efforts to ensure the free circulation of persons and goods multiply. On 17 May 1995, under the initiative of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Angola, Alioune Blondin Beye, representatives of the Government and UNITA, as well as other members of the Joint Commission, UN and NGO staff travelled from Luanda to Lobito in Benguela province. Comprised of over 100 people, this convoy was the first to make this trip since 1992.
Also on 17 May, WHO Representative in Angola, Professor Emmanuel Eben-Moussi, gave journalists an update on the developments surrounding the expansion of the virus Ebola that is assailing populations in Kikwit, Republic of Zaire. WHO-Angola invited UNICEF to support the Ministry of Health in epidemiological surveillance as a means of ensuring that concrete preventive measures are implemented at local level.
In its previous report#, covering the period 8-14 May, the UN Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit in Luanda (UCAH) stated in its summary that:
On 8 May 1995 the first World Food Programme road convoy from Luanda to N'Dalatando since 1992 took place, transporting some 357 Metric Tonnes of food aid that World Vision will distribute. Access to new areas continues to increase through road reconnaissance missions like the one conducted on 14 May by UN agencies, UNAVEM and NGOs from Kuito in Bie province to Huambo by road. Meanwhile, UCAH/CMAO continues through its mine awareness activities to sensitize populations, particularly IDPs (Internally Displaced People) returning to their areas of origin that the mere declaration of roads as mine-free does not imply that the surrounding areas are also mine-free.
Nevertheless, as the possible repatriation of Angolan refugees rises on the priority list of humanitarian activities, UNHCR has started preparations to reopen offices at entry points in Uige, Zaire and Cabinda provinces. This week UNHCR sent domestic items, household goods and seeds and tools for populations in Saurimo, Luau, Cazombo, and Lumbala N'Guimbo.
# indicates that the full text of the document is available from ACTSA
Published by Action for Southern Africa - ACTSA (on behalf of the Angola Emergency Campaign), 28 Penton Street, London N1 9SA, tel +44 171 833 3133, fax +44 171 837 3001, email: actsa@geo2.poptel.org.uk. The Angola Peace Monitor is being produced fortnightly for an initial period of three months. It is available by fax or post at a cost of 5 pounds sterling inside Europe or 10 pounds sterling elsewhere. This initiative was made possible with the assistance of a grant from W.O.W Campaigns Ltd. - the campaigning associate of War on Want.
From: The Washington Office on Africa woa@igc.apc.org
Subject: Angola Peace Monitor #5
Message-ID: APC&1'0'57b85ddd'8e7@igc.apc.org
Date: Mon, 05 Jun 1995 09:35:39 -0700 (PDT)
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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