UNITA warns of escalating conflict

A senior Zambian military commander told IRIN on Tuesday that Zambia’s armed forces were ready to defend the country’s “territorial integrity”, following a warning by Angolan UNITA rebels that its war against the government could spill across the border.

“A threat is a threat,” the commander said. “Our job is to keep peace around there (the border region).” But he refused to comment on what, if any, changes in the Zambian government’s position of neutrality in the Angolan conflict could have provoked UNITA’s warning. “It’s in their heads, I can’t comment on that,” the commander remarked.

In a communiqué dated 21 November, UNITA alleged the Angolan armed forces (FAA) “are assembling men and materials to launch a big offensive against UNITA positions in Moxico in order to occupy all the frontier with Zambia.” It added that the “adventure” of FAA chief of staff General Joao de Matos “in the west frontier of Zambia could escalate the war into that neighbouring country, since UNITA forces are ready for such confrontation”.

In a reference to Namibia’s green light in December to the FAA to use northern Namibia to attack UNITA - sparking retaliatory raids by the rebel group - the communiqué warned: “UNITA does not wish Zambia to be part of the Angolan conflict because the lessons learned from (Namibian President) Sam Nujoma’s madness are well known.”

Relations between Angola and Zambia have been tense. Zambia has repeatedly denied Angolan government allegations that senior government officials have had business links with UNITA, whose forces have had longstanding access to Zambia’s remote western border. Lusaka has also turned down requests from Luanda for a Namibian-style agreement which would allow its forces to be stationed inside Zambia. The influx of refugees, including UNITA soldiers fleeing the FAA’s advance, have added to the instability along the border.