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Mercenaries hand themselves over

    JOHANNESBURG

    Two Namibians who illegally served as mercenaries with the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) have deserted and handed themselves over to Namibian law enforcement agents at the weekend, ‘The Namibian’ reported on Tuesday.

    Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Hophni Hamufungu told the newspaper that he understood “they are Namibians, according to the information which I have but which I have not yet officially confirmed, because I have not spoken to the commander there”.

    The report added that promises of US $700 a month have seen an unspecified but large number of impoverished, jobless Namibians join the FAA in the war against the rebel UNITA movement of Jonas Savimbi. “Although the youths underwent basic training and fought in Angola’s war, they have apparently not been paid,” said the report.

    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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