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Africa Policy E-Journalgiven the difficulty in maintaining up-to-date links in old files. However, we hope they may still provide leads for your research. Angola: Peace Monitor II, 2 Date Distributed (ymd): 951026 ANGOLA PEACE MONITOR ISSUE NUMBER 2, VOLUME II 23 OCTOBER 1995 PRODUCED BY ACTSA - ACTION FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA Cantonment key bottleneck in peace process The United Nations Secretary General, Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali has called for an increase in efforts to quarter UNITA troops, pointing out the crucial role this has in the whole peace process as agreed under 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+). In his report to the UN Security Council on 4 October (S/1995/842) Dr Boutros-Ghali stated that he remained +concerned at the slow progress in the quartering process, which is essential for the early implementation of the other provisions of the Lusaka Protocol. I have asked UNAVEM (United Nations Angola Verification Mission) to intensify its efforts to accelerate this process+. However, the Secretary General reports that significant progress has been made, although much remains to be done: +UNAVEM has reconnoitred all 15 proposed quartering areas, and 11 of them have been approved by the parties+. According to Dr Boutros-Ghali: - Vila Nova and Londiumbali in Huambo have almost been completed; - quartering areas in Negage in Uige, Quibaxe in Kwanza-Norte, and Quibala in Kwanza-Sul were expected to be ready by the third week in October. The Secretary General points out that progress has been slow owing to inadequate conditions and delays in the arrival of personnel contributed by UNITA to undertake construction work. In response to these problems a commercial contractor has been hired to assist with the establishment of the ten remaining sites. Donors fail to pay for peace process However, there remains serious financial shortcomings, even in the crucial quartering phase. According to the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, the total funding needed for demobilisation and reintegration is $104.5 million, of which $54.4 million is required for the quartering areas. So far only $19.9 million in confirmed pledges have been made for the quartering phase. Commenting on these figures in his report to the Security Council, Dr Boutros-Ghali states that +it is imperative that every effort is made to ensure that the gains achieved so far are sustained and reinforced by increased financial, technical and material assistance from the donor community, especially for the reintegration of demobilised soldiers and the rehabilitation of the Angolan economy+. Dr Boutros-Ghali also points out that total unpaid contributions to all peacekeeping operations amounts to $2.4 billion. Of this, outstanding assessed contributions to the Special Account of UNAVEM III amounts to $117 million. Deminers graduate The Secretary General reported on 4 October that demining has continued, and that a South African commercial company has been contracted to undertake mine clearance and verification on 7,000 km of roads. Both the Angolan army, FAA, and UNITA are continuing to undertake demining, with UNAVEM providing UNITA with demining equipment. International NGOs have been active in mine awareness training, with special emphasis being given to risk reduction in the quartering areas. The Mine Awareness Training School has received nine instructors from UNAVEM, and the Angolan National Institute for the Removal of Explosives (INAROE) is recruiting 250 deminers, including 50 from UNITA, to be trained and equipped for mine clearing. The UN Humanitarian Assistance Co-ordination Unit (UCAH) in its latest Weekly Information Report (issue no.39) states that the first set of mine awareness instructors have graduated. They have been trained by the NPA for World Vision and the Catholic Relief Services. The second course began on 23 September for staff of various relief agencies operating in the country. UNAVEM deployment grows The Secretary General of the UN has reported that the strength of UN units has almost reached 5,000, with the deployment proceeding smoothly. The UN expects that infantry units from Argentina and Zambia will be deployed by the end of October, joining: - the Uruguayan and Indian battalions who have been operational since August 1995; - the Zimbabwean and Romanian battalions who have almost completed their deployment in north-eastern and south-eastern regions respectively; - the advance party of the Brazilian battalion who have arrived, and whose unit will complete its induction in the eastern region by the end of October; - the Portuguese logistics company who completed their induction on 30 August; - the Indian engineer squadron and the Romanian field hospital who are fully operational; - the Brazilian engineer squadron who have started deployment, - the Russian helicopter unit which is fully operational; - the engineer squadron from Bangladesh, the Argentine naval unit and the Republic of Korea bridging company, who conducted their detailed reconnaissance and were due to arrive in early October. The British logistics battalion has returned home after completing its tour of duty. It has been replaced by a commercial contractor as planned. Ceasefire violations fall The report to the UN Security Council from Dr Boutros-Ghali stated that cease-fire violations have reached their lowest recorded level. Reported violations have dropped from 110 in July and 95 in August, to 52 in September. The Secretary General reports that most regions are relatively calm and stable, except for isolated clashes and numerous acts of banditry. However, the Secretary General has warned that tensions remain in the diamond-rich areas of Lucapa in the north-east where +both sides are seeking to consolidate and enlarge the area they control. Reinforcements and sporadic shelling by both sides have also been reported in the northern region+. In addition tension has been reported in the southern region in recent weeks. Savimbi comments on diamond areas In an interview with the Portuguese weekly newspaper +Expresso+ on 15 October, Mr Jonas Savimbi, leader of UNITA, claimed that the Government did not have the right to take action against illegal diamond prospectors in the regions controlled by UNITA. Referring to the diamond region in the Lundas, Savimbi said +there are two zones, one of UNITA and one of the Government. We agree to a general campaign against these people, prospectors and adventurers, if it is carried out jointly by the forces of UNITA and the Government. But if the Government want to do it alone, it has to do it in its own zone and not UNITA's+. Peace plans for Cabinda Meanwhile, the Government has announced a cease-fire with the Cabinda separatist movement, the Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave, FLEC, which was not a party to the Lusaka Protocol. According to the London-based journal +Africa Economic Digest+ (9 October 1995), the Government has announced that an agreement has been reached with FLEC to suspend hostilities for four months +to negotiate a pact in the interests of national reconciliation+. Cabinda, in the north of Angola, produces 60 per cent of the country's oil, with offshore wells and onshore facilities of the Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, operated by the US Chevron Company. Quartering of Rapid Reaction Police The Secretary General of the United Nations has reported that several meetings have been held to discuss the section of the Lusaka Protocol which demands the quartering of the elite Government Rapid Reaction Police (RRP) and the disarming of the civilian population by the Angola national police. According to the report of the Secretary General, it has now been agreed that this should take place simultaneously with the quartering of UNITA soldiers. However, the Secretary General states that there are indications that the Government may delay final decisions until after the quartering of UNITA troops has begun. Threat to future food production The humanitarian situation in Angola remains precarious. The planting season has started without the return of the majority of refugees and internally displaced people. People have begun to return, particularly in the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bie and Bengo. Preparations are also underway for the repatriation of some of the 300,000 Angolan refugees from neighbouring countries. The Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, and the Ministry of Agriculture are co-ordinating the distribution of 7,000 tonnes of seeds and over 1.2 million agricultural tools. Approximately 60 per cent of the seeds and tools are already in place in the provinces. Provincial humanitarian co-ordination groups, with Government and UNITA representatives, have been set up, and are operating in three provinces. Mining of kimberlite pipes begin The Brazilian mining company, Odebrecht Mining Services, has announced that mining of the first of Angola's 600 kimberlite pipes is scheduled to begin in the north-eastern Catoca region. The mine was ready for production in 1992, but its opening was delayed because of the war. The mine is 40 per cent owned by the state mining company, Endiama, with a further 40 per cent owned by Russia's Almazi Rossii-Sakha Company. Odebrecht own the remaining 20 per cent of the mine. Total investment in the first phase, according to the Africa Economic Digest (11 September), will be approximately $86.6 million, with gross revenues expected to reach $477.4 million. The quality of Catoca diamonds is classified as 35 per cent gem, 15 per cent near gem and 50 per cent industrial grade. Renovation of power lines The Government is to spend $64 million renovating power transmission lines from the Cambambe hydro-electric power station to Luanda and to sub-stations in the provinces of Luanda, Kwansa-Norte, Malanje and Bengo. The bulk of the funding is coming from the World Bank, which is providing $35.5 million, and the African Development Bank which is providing $20 million. Conference to mark Independence Day The Mozambique Angola Committee is holding a one day conference on 11 November in London to mark Angola Independence Day. Among the contributors are the United Nations Association, Oxfam, UK Working Group on Landmines, and ACTSA - Action for Southern Africa. Also making a contribution will be Guardian journalist Victoria Brittain and Angolan economist Victor de Carvalho. For further information on the conference ring 0171 387 6771. Angolan Minister speaker at ACTSA AGM The Minister for Social Communication will be in London at the beginning of November to speak to activists promoting peace and democracy in Southern Africa. Hendrik Vaal Neto will be one of the keynote speakers at the Annual General Meeting in London on 4 November of ACTSA - Action for Southern Africa. Further details are available from ACTSA on +44 171 833 3133. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Angola Peace Monitor is produced every month by ACTSA - Action for Southern Africa, the successor organisation to the British Anti-Apartheid Movement. It is produced as our contribution towards the work of the Angola Emergency Campaign, which seeks to highlight the need for international action in support of peace and democracy in Angola. A years subscription to the Angola Peace Monitor is available at a cost of 10 pounds sterling in Britain and 15 pounds sterling elsewhere. Please indicate whether you wish to receive the Angola Peace Monitor by post, fax, or e-mail. A full set of back issues is available at an additional cost of 2 pounds sterling. Payment should be made in pounds sterling. If you wish to pay in any other currency, you must add the equivalent of 6 pounds sterling to cover our bank charges. ACTSA, 28 Penton Street, London N1 9SA, e-mail actsa@geo2.poptel.org.uk, fax +44 171 837 3001, telephone +44 171 833 3133.
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Africa Policy E-Journal
