THE WASHINGTON OFFICE ON AFRICA 110 M ARYLA ND A VENUE , N . E . WASH I NGTON , D .C. 20002 PHONE (202 ) 546 - 7 96 1 FA X ( 202 ) 546- 1545 February 10, 1993 Dear Friend, The situation in Angola is dire. Having lost the September elections, Jonas Savimbi and his UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) forces plunged the country back into full-scale war. As a result of UNIT A's latest round of attacks, over 16,000 people have been killed, thousands have fled UNITA-held areas, and over 1.4 million people currently face starvation. For almost two weeks now, UNITA has cut off the water supply to Luanda, the capital. On 31 January 1993, the United Nations extended its mandate in Angola until April. However, the UN is considering a scale-down of its already modest force to below 100, which would leave Angolans at the mercy of UNIT A forces currently poised to take military control over the country. UNIT A has already seized 75 percent of the country, including much of the northern oil and diamond rich areas which has placed a stranglehold on the Angolan economy. As indicated in the enclosed articles, UNIT A's current military offensive is being heavily assisted by South Africans and Zairians as well as white mercenaries. The Frontline States called an emergency meeting in December to protest South African destabilization tactics, and Namibian authorities recently seized three South African planes attempting to ferry supplies to UNIT A from the northern Namibian town of Rundu. The Clinton administration has failed to recognize and shore up the newly-elected multiparty government. During his confirmation hearings, the new Secretary of State Warren Christopher agreed to take a cautious "wait and see" attitude towards diplomatic recognition of the elected government. In an effort to respond to the current crisis in Angola, we urge you to write the new Secretary of State Warren Christopher requesting the Clinton administration to: * immediately recognize the recently elected Angolan government and establish full diplomatic relations, (continued on next page) SPONSORS OF THE WASHINGTON OFFICE ON AFRICA: AFRICAN METHO DIST EP ISCOPAL CHURCH· AMALGAMATED CLOTHING AND TEXTILE WORKERS UNIOt. THE AMERI CAN COMMITTEE ON AFRI CA· CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DI SCIPLES OF CHRIST) • CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN' EPISCOPAL CHURCH, COALITION F( HUMAN NEEDS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS O FFICE, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE WASHINGTON OFFI CE' EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA ' MARYKNG. FATHERS AND BROTHERS, MI SSI ONARIES OF AFRICA' PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) • PROGRESSIVE NATIONAL BAPTI ST CONVENTION. HOME MISSIC BOARD. THE REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA· SACRED HEART FATHERS , SOCIETY FOR AFRICAN MISSIONS (S.MA FATHERS)' UNI TED AUTOMOBILE. AEROSPAce AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA, UAW· UNITED CHU RCH OF CHRIST, BOARD FOR WORLD MINISTRIES O"FICE FOR CHURCH IN SOCIET Y AND CO MMISSION FOR RAC IAL JUSTICE · UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTR IES 4FP!C I orn(" - '\ID \"OMEN'S DIVI SION· UNITED STE ELWORKERS OF AMFRIU February 10, 1993 Page two * isolate Savimbi and UNIT A until there is a definitive renunciation of violence and a commitment to peaceful political competition, * support funding for a continued and expanded United Nations presence in Angola, adequate to facilitate full implementation of the peace process and runoff elections, * investigate South African and Zairian intervention, and * appropriate aid to the Angolan government for economic reconstruction. You should address your letter to: Warren Christopher Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20520 and please send WOA a blind copy of your letter. We also suggest that you call the Department of State comment line to register your recommendations. The phone number is: (202) 647-6575. Sincerely, Imani Countess Executive Director Enclosures: "The Angolan Imperative", Guardian: 21 January 1993 "Angolan Appeals to U.S.", Washington Post: 26 January 1993 "Rebels Sow Path of Terror and Despair Across Angola", Guardian: 2 February 1993 "Time, at Last, to Recognize Angola", Washington Post: 10 February 1993 angolaIkeyplus .293 As war returns to the southern African state, Victoria Brittain puts the case for UN action The Guard; an The Angolan 21 January 1993 imperative Confusion surrounds the dino. to policemen, local admin­ EANWHILE a 10,000- N THE last week, under the Zaireans now fighting, as the istrators and, this week, army man Unlta army is on impotent gaze of a UN m~ni · Zaire army is itself split in the officers gunned down in two se­ Mthe outskirts oi the Cen­ toring force, Jonas Savlm· country's power-struggle be­ perate incidents on the streets tral Highlands town of Huambo Ibi's Unlta movement, aided tween Savimbi's old ally Presi­ of the capital. where the government last by white mercenaries and ele· dent Mobutu Sese Seko and the A Unita military force of tens week succeeded in ousting Sa­ ments of the South African and emerging new institutions of of thousands has been un­ vimbl from his headquarters Zairean armies, has seized the democracy, and it is unclear leashed_ Far from having been known as The White House. Un­ keys to Angola's economy - di­ whose payroll supports those demobilised under the watchful ila has brought up to Huambo amonds and oil - and taken now fighting in Angola. eye of the UN over the months units from the coastal towns of I the strategic airport of Cuito Meanwhile the dying days of ahead of the election, Unita Benguela and Loblto where , Cuanavale. the Bush administration have retained its full capacity and, as there was house-to-house fight­ For Angolans It Is a sickening provided Unlta with a shameful Its own most senlor military ing before Unita's attacks were repeat of the history which level of moral support, includ­ dissidents warned publicly last repulsed, and is blasting the launched the country into a ing the withholding of diplo­ February when they broke with city with tanks and heavy artil­ war which has devastated matic recognition from the Savimbl, in addition trained a lery. Even the city's hospital every province, brought hun­ elected multi-party government 20,OOO-man secret army In has been abandoned and the dreds of thousands of deaths, In Luanda_ This US policy, Zaire. population has fled . more amputees and mass which is largely responsible for The UN was blind to these Faced with a war on this flights of a destitute population_ the wholesale destruction military preparations which scale, which the Secretary Gen­ For President Clinton it is yet wreaked by Unita in recent allowed the current catastro­ eral's special representative, another foreign policy crisis weeks, has Its roots in George phe, and Western ambassadors Margaret Anstee, failed to pre­ looming under a deadline next Bush's job as director of the in Luanda denled every report dict and is now too discredited week for the UN to admit defeat CIA in 1976 when the US covert of the army in waiting over the to diffuse, the UN Is In a very and quit, or renew Its now action against Angola was at a border, though It is inconceiv­ awkward position. Miss Anstee hopeless mandate. crucial stage. able that US satellite monltor­ has said that. for the UN moni­ Nearly 20 years ago thou­ An undeclared war began in ing did not detect them. toring mission mandate to be sands of South African and Angola within days of the UN's . In the last few weeks Unlta renewed at the end of the Zalrean soldiers, aided by a declaration that tile September has seized most of Angola's month the two sides must have group of British and American election, won by the MPLA, northern diamond mining begun peace talks. This now mercenaries, fought their way was free and fair. Unita's gener­ areas, and yesterday, In a seri­ seems impossible as the fight­ across Angola on behalf of two als pulled out of the new ous psychological blow to the ing escalates. CIA-backed movements, Unita natiorial army and went on the government, took the oil town But a pull-out by the UN will and FNLA, in an attempt to pre­ radio threatening to reduce the of Soyo, although the govern­ mark Boutros Boutros Ghali vent the MPLA taking power at country to rubbie and to turn it ment units regrouped and fight­ with a stamp of unforgettable independence from Portugal. into another Somalia. Immedi­ ing is still going on_ failure and will have serious Today Unlta is strong enough ately thereafter the creeping Oil accounts for 90 per cent of repercussions for the UN role to do most of its own fighting takeover of towns and munici­ Angola's revenue, with one In South Africa's thanks to two decades of US, palities began. third of it coming from Soyo. transformation_ Israeli, Moroccan and South In parallel came the assassi­ Dozens of foreigners linked to , The case for a major UN African military training ami nation of MPLA officials rang­ three big oil companies - Tex­ . peace-keeping mission for equipment. But some of the Ing from well-known white in­ aco Elf and Fina - were evacu­ Angola has not been made by movement's old patrons in tellectuals such as Fernando ated to boats and offshore oil any of the Western powers, South Africa are providing lo­ Marcelino and David Bernar- platforms in the last few days though given the direct respon­ gistical . support and supplies and 17 were captured by Unita_ sibility they bear, with the UN, with trucks coming in from Na­ The economic and political for the daily death and horror mibia's Capri vi Strip, and damage is immense.