Marek News Briefs: Angola 27 Dec 1999
Angolan military forces (FAA) have announced
the capture of the traditional UNITA stronghold at Jamba in southeast Angola,
and say they have secured the entire border with Namibia, meaning that
UNITA will be hard-pressed to fall back into Namibian territory. AP has
reported that Namibian Defense Forces (NDF) participated with their FAA
ally in the operation. Reuters reported on December 27 that Angolan state
radio said 200 UNITA soldiers were captured in the process. Nothing has
yet been confirmed independently, though UNITA officials abroad have confirmed
the loss of Jamba and there is no reason to doubt the announcements by
the FAA. A UNITA representative based in Lisbon conceded that Jamba had
fallen, but he said it was not really a setback for the rebels. Carlos
Morgado told Portuguese state radio, "Jamba was a symbol of the UNITA
resistance until the (1991) peace accord. Today, it has neither political
nor military significance." It is located in a sparsely forested plain
and had an airstrip and weapons depots. Collin McClelland reported for
Reuters on December 25 that Radio Nacional said, citing a source authorized
by the FAA, "The Angola armed forces are in power of the former UNITA
headquarters, Jamba. The source has confirmed the news that began to circulate
yesterday (December 24). The same source said the FAA is continuing to
put pressure on and clean up some pockets of Savimbi's forces." McClelland
reported that some 1,600 Namibian troops now patrol the border with Namibia.
In reading and listening to Angolan government announcements about its
string of victories against UNITA, one is forced to conclude that the government
feels it has pretty well defeated UNITA and neutralized its conventional
warfighting capacity, leaving it with only a guerrilla warfare capability.
Because of these government announcements, it is assumed that the dos Santos
government will soon revert to police action against the remaining UNITA
elements and press forward with delivering improved governance and improved
economic conditions to the country. However, one is mindful of the saying,
"Don't assume nothing."
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