UNITA unity talks still on track

Angola's former rebel group UNITA on Monday dismissed reports that reconciliation talks with a key breakaway faction had stalled, saying that the "reunion process was on track" and UNITA would be completely united before the party's congress in 2003.

"The differences between ourselves and UNITA-Renovada are artificial and will be overcome in due time. Right now we are looking for the best possible solution to resolve minor problems," UNITA's information secretary, Marcial Dachala, told IRIN.

On Monday, the Angolan news agency Angop reported that a group of 30 UNITA supporters protested at the party's headquarters in Luanda demanding a meeting between the two sides. The protesters accused the current leader of UNITA-Renovada, Eugenio Manuvakola, of obstructing dialogue that would lead to the reunification of the party.

UNITA-Renovada was formed in September 1998 by Manuvakola, once secretary-general of UNITA, and other dissidents who had fallen out with the movement's leader, Jonas Savimbi. The new group was recognised by the Angolan government as the interlocutors for the Lusaka Protocol, signed with the rebels in 1994.

The reunification of the former rebel group is now seen as key to lasting peace in the country.

Manuvakola told IRIN: "Although we have agreed in principle to combine the two political national commissions, we still have not decided on how many members the new united national commission will comprise and how many cadres will represent each group. This is the main difference. We have overcome the main issue which was whether to reunite or not and that has already been decided."

Manuvakola said he remained optimistic about progress toward reconciliation, despite a postponement of high-level talks scheduled for Monday.

"I am not sure when talks will resume, but definitely soon. At the next meeting we will sort out the outstanding issues and decide on a joint programme of action," he said.

But analysts told IRIN that reconciliation involved more than the simple political reunification of the party but also the benefits UNITA was entitled to under the Lusaka Protocol.

"Already many UNITA-Renovada supporters have switched over to UNITA. Renovada post Savimbi finds itself in a weakened and difficult position. It does not want to be sidelined in any way and is concerned that it will no longer enjoy the kind of influence it previously had," said senior researcher at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, Joao Porto.