WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2354/97 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Council. Role of Angolan government troops in the conquest of Zaire by Kabila
Date: 1997-07-18
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, armed forces, ethnic conflict, humanitarian aid, military equipment, peacekeeping, the EU's international role, use of aid

C 102/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

(98/C 102/46)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2354/97

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(18 July 1997)

Subject: Role of Angolan government troops in the conquest of Zaire by Kabila

What is the Council(cid:146)s evaluation of the fact that Angolan government troops, with effective military support
from the official Angolan army, gave assistance to Kabila(cid:146)s troops in conquering the territory of Zaire?

Has the Council made known its opposition to such military support, the funding for which comes from the sale
of  existing  stocks  of  oil  ›  money  which  should  have  been  used  for  developing  Angola  in  general  and  for
humanitarian purposes in particular?

How can the Council explain to the people of Europe that Angola(cid:146)s oil reserves for the next three years have
already been sold and that the profits are being used in part to purchase offensive military equipment, mainly
from  a  country  involved  in  the  peace  agreement,  i.e.  Russia,  while  the  EU  donates  funds  for  the  general
development of the country?

Answer

(13 november 1997)

According  to  reports  which  have  reached  the  Council,  it  would  appear  that  while  Angolan  army  units  gave
assistance to Kabila(cid:146)s troops, UNITA units at the same time supported the former President MOBUTU.

Recently, the Rwandan Government publicly acknowledged the role its troops had played in the struggle for
control of the country. Clearly, troops form other countries of the region were also engaged in this conflict.

The Council has condemned any external military intervention in the conflict in former Zaire and has called upon
the Congolese parties to resolve the conflict by peaceful means.

Through  diplomatic  channels  and  its  Special  Envoy  to  the  Great  Lakes  region,  Mr Ajello,  the  Council  has
appealed to the governments of the countries in that region to refrain from intervening in any way.

The  question  of  the  purchase  of  military  equipment  by  the  Angolan  Government  falls  outside  the  Council(cid:146)s
sphere of competence. That being said, the Council certainly considers it desirable that the Angolan authorities,
as well as UNITA, should allocate as much as possible of their revenue to the common development objectives
identified in the Lome· Convention.

(98/C 102/47)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2355/97

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(18 July 1997)

Subject: Military offensive by Angolan government army despite the peace agreement

The Angolan army has launched an offensive against Unita despite the Lusaka peace agreement of 1994. This
offensive is jeopardizing the already fragile peace accord. The government army has engaged Unita at a number
of points, including zones which are provisionally under Unita(cid:146)s control in accordance with the peace agreement.

1.
Does the Council not feel that, in contrast to its passive attitude towards the latest developments in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in view of the fact that one of its Member States › Portugal › is closely
involved in the peace agreement, it should take a more active role in the peace process?

Does the Council not agree that the recent developments are an obstacle to the largest opposition force in

2.
the country, Unita, retaining its confidence in being part of the peace process?

Is the Council considering withdrawing financial aid to Angola if the government does not stop its military

3.
action forthwith?