Angolan Govt begins efforts to restart peace process
The Angolan Government has begun efforts to secure a ceasefire and kick-start the country’s stalled peace process following the death of UNITA rebel leader Jonas Savimbi on Friday.
Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos met the Portuguese Government yesterday and is due to meet US President George W Bush in Washington tomorrow.
Speaking after yesterday’s talks, Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama said Mr dos Santos told him he is ready to take "decisive and rapid steps" to call a ceasefire.
"I was convinced the Angolan authorities are aware of the need to act quickly to restore the peace process and achieve a ceasefire," he told a news conference.
He also said dos Santos plans to organise elections.
During the weekend, a spokesman for the UNITA rebels ruled out a ceasefire and insisted that the guerrillas will continue to oppose dos Santos’ Government.
Carlos Morgado, speaking from Portugal, said Savimbi’s death was a setback, but vowed that the Government will not win a military victory.
"From now on, the scenario has changed," he said.
"We’ll have to find new paths, but this will never mean a military surrender."
In a statement following Savimbi’s death in a gunbattle with government troops, the Angolan authorities urged the UNITA forces to surrender.
Around 500,000 people are believed to have died since the civil war began in 1979 and about four million, roughly one-third of the Angola’s population, have been driven from their homes by the fighting.
