ANGOLA-ZAMBIA: Swaziland mediates over border tension

Talks between Zambian and Angolan officials to ease the tension between the two countries opened in Swaziland on Monday, diplomatic sources told IRIN. The five days of talks, mediated by Swaziland as chair of the security committee of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), are "to discuss the whole range of issues affecting our relationship," a Zambian foreign ministry official said. Angola has repeatedly accused Zambia of aiding the UNITA rebel movement, and has threatened reprisals. Lusaka has consistently denied any government involvement, and last month again called on the international community to investigate Luanda's charges. SADC has placed resolving the tension firmly on its agenda. However, "the situation is so bad I don't think anyone can do anything about it," one diplomatic source said. He claimed that Luanda was deliberately overstating the extent of cross-border supply links between Zambia and UNITA as an excuse for its battlefield setbacks, and to pressure Lusaka into allowing the Angolan army to use Zambian territory to attack UNITA's southeastern bases. "Two to three years ago Zambia was heavily involved but I think it has now stopped," the diplomat said. "There is no doubt that UNITA has free movement on the border and I don't think Zambia has the capacity to seal it off." But, he added, the bulk of UNITA's military supplies are flown directly to rebel-held airstrips inside Angola. However, regional analysts believe UNITA has used Zambia as a conduit for illegal diamond sales which have funded its war effort.