wfn.org | Renewed bombing attacks in Angola send people fleeing

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Are these signs of a major offensive?

GENEVA, 21 December 1998 (lwi) - New conflicts between the ruling Popular
Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the opposition National
Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) have been reported from
this Southern African country. According to information received by the
ecumenical aid network "Action by Churches Together" (ACT), the Angolan
air force has been carrying out bombing attacks on UNITA strongholds in
Bailundo and Andulo in the central part of the country. This is seen as a
prelude to a major military offensive in the near future. The effects of
less pronounced military clashes reported earlier, were rated differently
by the two sides.

The latest offensive had been in the making for quite some time with a
build-up of government military hardware in the area. It is believed that
the offensive was timed to coincide with the MPLA congress, called to
strengthen inner-party demands that the government should do more to
combat UNITA. ACT reports that there is now open dissent in the MPLA on
whether the "old guard" in the government is able to solve this
long-running conflict.

As a consequence of the offensive, the number of internally displaced
persons (IDP) is on the increase. According to unconfirmed accounts, 6,000
to 8,000 new IDPs arrived in Luena in the central highlands of the
country. Ongoing conflicts are reported in the provinces of Uige, Malange,
Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul in the north and the east of the country.
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) - Angola is in the process of verifying
these figures and the effects of the conflicts on its programs (cf. lwi
14/98).

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/