Word: unita
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Potentially one of the richest nations in Africa, Angola's 7 million people are saddled with the mixed blessings of oil, rich diamond fields and Marx. But the 17-year conflict with the South African-backed guerrillas of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas Savimbi, is bleeding government coffers. Although Angolan officials refuse to reveal how much of the national budget is spent on the military, Western diplomats put the figure at 25%. Forty percent or more of Angola's foreign currency earnings are used to pay for military equipment, while...
Rebel and South African attacks have damaged bridges, railways and hydroelectric dams. The distribution of food has been severely hampered, while repeated UNITA offensives have disabled the Benguela railway, which used to transport copper from Zaire and Zambia to the Atlantic. That disruption alone will cost Angola up to $100 million annually in unearned transit fees. UNITA claims to control at least one third of Angola, mainly in the southeast, although the government seems to retain its hold over the major towns...
...rebel threat, Dos Santos is not likely to renounce Soviet sponsorship of his regime. Nor is he likely to agree to South Africa's demand for a withdrawal of the Cuban troops, who help the 35,000 government soldiers and as many as 50,000 militiamen fight the UNITA guerrillas. With Angola's future uncertain, the chances of breaking southern Africa's broader diplomatic logjams seem equally remote...
...week was also mildly encouraging. Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos told the Secretary-General that a Cuban troop withdrawal might be possible under certain conditions. Among his demands: that South Africa halt its military support for guerrillas of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and agree to Namibian independence...
...Furthermore, the South Africa-supported UNHA rebels have recently been gaining ground in their efforts to destabilize the Dos, Santos government. Two weeks ago they captured the town of Cangamba. which is near the strategic Benguela railroad thai normally carries copper from Zambia to ports on the Atlantic. If UNITA scores further gains, Angola may feel an even greater need for Cuban support...