Angola’s army chief-of-staff General Joao de Matos at the weekend called on UNITA rebels to lay down their arms and promised that defectors would be “welcome as brothers,” state radio reported. He described UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi as a “scourge” who has caused “a great deal of suffering.”
“I would like to appeal to all soldiers in the service of Savimbi to renounce war and join the Angolan people so that together we may resolutely build a new life,” de Matos said. “I beg of you to come forward because you would be welcome as brothers who have freed themselves from Savimbi’s oppression.”
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