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UNITA threatens “Portuguese interests” in Angola

    JOHANNESBURG

    A UNITA rebel threat against Portuguese interests in Angola has been described as “cause for concern” by the embassy in Luanda.

    UNITA Secretary-General Paulo Lukamba Gato said in an interview with Portuguese ‘Renascenca’ radio on Wednesday that Lisbon had taken a “neo-colonialist position” in Angola and the “interests of all of those who, with the government in Angola, fight the true patriots are seen by us as targets.”

    A Portuguese embassy official told IRIN on Thursday that “we are taking this seriously due to the situation right now.” But, he added, “we are a little bit used to these kind of threats from UNITA.”

    He denied UNITA accusations that Portugal was providing military assistance to the Angolan government’s current offensive against UNITA, but acknowledged that Portugal did have instruction teams in Luanda and Lobito involved in basic training for the Angolan armed forces.

    “We have military cooperation in an open and transparent way with Luanda and I can assure you we are not involved in military operations,” the envoy said.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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