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142 UNITA rebels surrender

    JOHANNESBURG

    At least 142 former members of the Angolan UNITA rebel movement have surrendered to government authorities at Chipindo, in the southern Huila province, state news agency ANGOP reported on Friday. Among the deserters were 25 officers and 14 seargents who reached Chipindo along with 5,176 civilians as they fled the military bases of Caala, Bambi, Camuenha, Chicoca and Bunjei.

    They also surrendered 26 Russian-made “AKM” automatic rifles, two mortars for “RPG-7” launchers and 20 ammunition cartridges. The combatants reportedly showed interest in joining the Angolan armed forces (FAA). The FAA military commander for the southern region, Gen Francisco Pereira Furtado, told the defectors that their move demonstrated courage and a spirit of unity.

    “We know that many of you were taken and recruited compulsorily by the savimbisits and obliged to fight an unjust war”, said General Furtado, noting that it was worth recognising and abandoning UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi who is not interested in the development of others. Another 500 rebels and 27,000 civilians have also surrendered to government authorities in different areas of Huila province. Chipindo village lies 456 km east of Lubango, the provincial capital for Huila.

    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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