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afrol.com, 6 December - The Angolan Government lately is reporting about more and more small and big victories in its 25-years old conflict with Jonas Savimibi's UNITA rebels. Former UNITA strongholds in northern and central Angola are captured and UNITA officers give in to President dos Santos' amnesty. Angola has suffered a 25-year civil war following the independence war, which has killed about a million people and forced some 2.6 million to flee their homes. Refugees keep streaming into neighbouring Congo Kinshasa, Zambia and Namibia, where there are fears of a conflict spillover. If the row of victories by the Government should continue, however, the country and the region could see a quicker solution to the conflict than expected. Several municipalities in the Central Huambo Province, one of the traditional strongholds of Savimbi and the UNITA, was recently taken by Government forces. The last half year, Government forces successfully have resumed control over all major towns in eastern Moxico province. This also included the Zambia border town of Cazombo, which had been under UNITA control since 1991. In northern Angola, the border with Congo Kinshasa (DRC) has been shored up by Government forces in recent military victories. The Angolan Army has reported even more important successes in the diamond rich Lunda provinces. The Government now claims to be in control of 11 of the 13 districts in Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul, thus denying UNITA access to the diamonds that had previously funded their operations. On October 24 the Angolan Foreign Ministry announced that the Angolan Army has "totally expelled UNITA rebels from diamond zones." International efforts to ban diamonds from conflict areas might also start have their effect on UNITA's funding, especially after Togo's recent agreeing to ban the diamond trade. Government military victories have caused the rebels to flee disorderly from many positions, contributing to material losses and desertions. Hundreds of UNITA soldiers and officers have also been reported entering Zambia and the DRC as refugees, following lost battles. The losses have disturbed discipline and left many Savimbi-followers loose confidence in their leaders and the fight. "I do not believe in any victories of Savimbi, taking into account the defeats he has been suffering in the battle field," a deserting UNITA officer last week told the Angolan news agency ANGOP. UNITA is also reported to be short on ammunition and other materials following the defeats. "Life started to be complicated, there was no more ammunition left, we started to carry things in the head, people could not have a rest," another disserting officer said last week, after UNITA defeats in the central Bie Province in November. The Angolan Government Army has seized large amounts of guns, ammunition, fuel and other material after its victories. Food shortage is also said to be a problem for UNITA units on the run. Among UNITA officials, President dos Santos' decision to grant amnesty to war criminals slowly is being noted. The Amnesty Law was passed by the Angolan Parliament only last week. A nephew to rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, Felisberto Isaac Pena, was one of the first prominent UNITA officials to benefit from the amnesty this week, after recently having been captured in combat. Pena has stated that he was surprised that the amnesty was more than mere words and that he "felt welcome". However, he explained that "people want to escape but are afraid as the leaders are spreading the false idea that those who surrender to the Government will be imprisoned, tortured and killed." Another member of the rebel UNITA secret services, Captain Mario Jacinto, who recently surrendered to the Government, explained that the current military situation for the UNITA "is pushing into surrendering lots of generals and high-ranking officers that have always been with Jonas Savimbi". The captain underlined that all those who are with Savimbi know that they are wrong and they are just waiting for an opportunity to leave him. If the dissolution of UNITA strength continues, analysts say the
rebels tactical leader might seek renewed negotiations with the
Government for a peaceful end to the conflict. President dos Santos,
presenting both the stick and the carrot in his latest offensive, has
already offered Savimbi pardon and an amnesty if he is willing to lay
down his weapons. Sources: Angolan Government and afrol archives
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