From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:SOUTH AFRICA: TENSION WITH ANGOLA OVER AID TO UNITA/RELATE
Date: 14 Dec 92 04:38:01 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Opecna Morning Transmission
Title: SOUTH AFRICA: TENSION WITH ANGOLA OVER AID TO UNITA/RELATE


/attn editors: please relate the following to 'angola:
resuppling rebels, pretoria returns to its bad old ways' moved
from johannesburg at 04:55 gmt/

johannesburg, dec 4 (ips) -- relations between luanda and
pretoria are deteriorating rapidly over allegations that the
south african defence force (sadf) has been funelling
clandestine support to unita rebels battling the government in
angola.

late thursday pretoria announced it was pulling its diplomats
out of luanda and issued a travel advisory warning to citizens
not to travel to angola.

the move is seen as the toughest diplomatic steps in the row
surrounding angolan claims that south african aircraft have been
violating angolan airspace in a resupply operation for
pretoria's ally and leader of unita, jonas savimbi.

since loosing september's presidential and legislative
elections declared generally free and fair by international
observers, he has launched a military offensive.

there is now widespread speculation that the angolans will
respond by pulling its representatives out of pretoria. a series
of crisis talks took place in the ministry of foreign affairs as
well as the angolan embassy in pretoria this week as relations
degenerated over the issue of the reported illicit flights.

the department of foreign affairs said in a statement late
thursday that angola was ''deliberately blackmailing'' the south
african government over its claims of the sadf's support for
unita.

''the allegations are lies and even the united nations
observer, on enquiry, said there was no evidence of this'', the
statement said. the statement pointed out that angola has not
been able to provide proof to back its allegations.

there is speculation here that a south african plane and crew
of three captured on the ground in the central region by the
angolans over the weekend in false red cross insignia was in
fact a party of diamond smugglers rather than part of a covert
operation.

but there are still persistent reports that south african
military aircraft have violated the airspace of namibia,
botswana, angola and zimbabwe in a concerted effort to supply
unita during the rebel's recent offensive.

on thursday the namibian government lodged a formal complaint
that south africa c-130 transport planes were routinely flying
unauthorised missions from south africa into angola. (more/ips)


south africa: tension (2)

this followed a complaint from zimbabwe on wednesday
detailing violations by south african fighter aircraft that had
been recorded by radar tracking as well as earlier protests
lodged by botswana and angola.

the reports follow earlier claims that the sadf flew at least
50 c-130 transporters into unita controlled areas of angola to
unload men and supplies, including tanks and g-5 cannon, from
south africa over botswana and namibia.

thursday, zimbabwean president rober mugabe openly
accused pretoria of plotting with unita to overthrow the
mpla-led government in luanda in language reminiscent of the
hostilities that characterised relations between south africa
and the frontline states during the 1980s.

the deteriorating situation in the region accompanies reports
that the new government in luanda has appointed a war cabinet
and is planning a major counter-attack to roll back unita
advances on towns surrounding luanda.

unita now controls over 60 percent of the country, but the
government has so far held back from committing its airforce or
armour which could prove decisive.

the mpla announced a new government in luanda this week and
has offered unita minor posts in the ministries of culture,
defence, public works and social affairs.

most observers agree that the concessions are too small to
entice unita back from the bush. sean cleary, a consultant for
savimbi, claims that a hardline mpla group has, in fact, seized
control and is pushing the military option.

cleary backs this by pointing out that mpla's armed forces
chief general antgnio franca ''n'dalu'' , a moderate who
favoured negotiations with unita, has been replaced by hawkish
general joao baptista de matos.

a ceasefire in may last year was capped by multiparty
elections in september aimed at bringing peace to angola after
16-years of civil war. however, there are suggestions among
analysts that unita is pursuing a strategy to sieze power before
jan. 20 when u.s. president-elect bill clinton is sworn in.

clinton is expected to recognise an mpla-led government
following its election victory, ending a u.s. policy of
isolating angola since its independence in 1975.

elements within the sadf, facing threats to its allies
throughout the region, appear commited to backing savimbi.
(end/ips/ek/oa/92)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african