Russia has agreed to provide military aid and training to the Angolan government in its fight against the rebel UNITA movement, Angolan Defence Minister Kundi Paihama told the independent catholic radio station, ‘Radio Ecclesia’ on Wednesday. “The aim is to break the backbone of UNITA rebel leader Jonas Savimbi,” Paihama said. He said the deal included training Angolan army staff in Russia and providing advisers to teach Angolan troops on the use of arms to be acquired by Luanda.
The radio station reported that a military agreement was signed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov and Paihama during Klebanov’s two-day visit to Angola which ended on Tuesday.
During his visit, Klebanov also signed an agreement with Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to increase bilateral economic support, especially in Angola’s diamond industry which exports up to US $1 billion worth of rough diamonds annually.
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