UNITA attacks condemned - PeaceWatch: Angola - National Union for the Total Independence of Angola; attacks on civilians - Brief Article

UN Chronicle, Dec, 2001 by Horst Rutsch

The Security Council on 20 September condemned "in the strongest terms" the terrorist attacks by UNITA forces on the civilian population of Angola, and said it would maintain sanctions against them until they met the conditions laid out in its resolutions. The Council President said that "such attacks are unacceptable and cannot be justified by any political goals. Such acts are in violation of international law and may have further implications." The primary responsibility for the continued fighting in Angola, he said, lay with the armed faction of UNITA, headed by Joseph Savimbi. Reiterating its call on all States to implement the sanctions, the Council called on Mr. Savimbi to cease all military action and to enter into a dialogue with the Government of Angola on how to conclude the implementation of the Lusaka Protocol.

The Council said it supported the Government's intention to hold elections in 2002 as part of the ongoing democratization process, and stressed the need for the elections to be free and fair. Stating that it was "seriously concerned" with the humanitarian plight of the Angolan people, particularly the internally displaced, the Council called on all parties concerned to facilitate the delivery of relief aid.

The Council on 19 October extended the mandate of the monitoring mechanism on sanctions imposed against UNITA until 19 April 2002. On 29 October, Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed four experts to serve on the monitoring mechanism, chaired by Juan Larrain of Chile who will continue to monitor sanctions on UNITA diamonds, violations of the arms embargo, and UNITA finances.

Renewed fighting in eastern Angola sent thousands fleeing into Zambia, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on 19 October. Organizing urgent assistance for Angolan refugees making their way to Zambia's western province, UNHCR estimated that 60 per cent were children suffering severe malnutrition. UNHCR said fighting in Angola "traditionally flared up in the last months of the year, when the warring parties try to consolidate positions before the onset of the rainy season". Zambia is hosting over 200,000 Angolan refugees, including some who have been there for over 30 years.

RELATED ARTICLE: UNITA Attacks Civilian Train

On 16 August 2001, the Council strongly condemned the terrorist attack four days earlier on a civilian train. Secretary-General Kofi Annan also condemned the massacre, noting that UNITA had claimed responsibility for the attack, in which more than 150 civilians were killed. The train was travelling to Dondo, 115 miles southeast of the capital Luanda, when it struck a mine, causing a huge explosion. Others who were able to flee the inferno were gunned down by the rebels. In May, the rebels had raided Caxito, 35 miles from Luanda, killing at least 80 people.