wfn.org | South African church leaders to visit Angola

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

15 February 2000

Cape Town - Church Leaders in South Africa have decided, at their quarterly
meeting, to intervene decisively in the rapidly deteriorating civil war
situation in Angola. Troops of the MPLA government are engaged in armed
conflict with forces of the rebel UNITA movement, which reneged on terms of
a peace accord, and refused to take up posts in the Government of National
Unity, after they disputed the outcome of the last general election.

There have been recent press reports that Namibia is now allowing Angolan
government troops to operate from its territory against UNITA bases in
Angola, and that Namibian citizens are being forcibly drafted into the
Angolan army. During January, several attacks on civilian motorists were
reported, and three children of French tourists were murdered in the
Caprivi Strip, part of north-eastern Namibia which borders on southern
Angola.

Namibian church leaders have criticised their government for allowing its
territory to be used in this way. They have also called for the withdrawal
of Namibian troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They, together
with Zimbabwean troops, are supporting the government of President Laurent
Kabila in its stuggle against armed guerillas, who control large parts of
the central African nation.

Towards the end of February, two prominent South African church leaders
will visit Angola to gather information first-hand and meet with leaders of
the country's churches. They are Rev Charity Majiza, General Secretary of
the South African Council of Churches and Dr Des van der Water, General
Secretary of the United Congregational Church, who is Convenor of the
Church Leader's Forum.

The Forum has expressed its support for the churches in Angola as they seek
to facilitate peace and reconciliation in the country, and has pledged to
cooperate with humanitarian agencies working for justice there. It has
appealed to the MPLA government and UNITA to re-open negotiations aimed at
ending the conflict and promoting justice and democracy.

In view of the widening conflicts in southern and central Africa, the
Church Leaders also called for a moratorium on arms sales throughout the
continent.

Rev Dave Wanless - Coordinator: Ecumenical News Network southern Africa
Tel & Fax: +27 (21) 683-9665
Cell: 082 958-6482
E-mail: davecong@mweb.co.za
Website: www.uccsa.co.za