Savimbi holed up in Moxico

UNITA rebel leader Jonas Savimbi is reportedly holed up in the eastern province of Moxico, Reuters reported the state-owned ‘Jornal de Angola’ as saying on Tuesday. The newspaper quoted a UNITA defector as alleging that the veteran rebel chief was in Cangamba, 900 km southeast of the capital Luanda, where he has a base. UNITA defector Captain Delfin Tchombe said Savimbi was guarded by a large rebel contingent. A government military source told reporters it was unclear whether Tchombe’s information was part of a UNITA plan of misinformation regarding Savimbi’s whereabouts. Tchombe had surrendered with 33 fellow rebels to government troops in Camacupa, 325 km closer to Luanda than Cangamba, the paper said. During the past two months some 1,500 rebels have surrendered to the government in Bie province where Camacupa lies, it noted.