Several written sources indicate that the forces of the Angolan National Liberation Front were practically wiped out by the army of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in the second half of the 1970s (Mondes rebelles 1996, 508, 520; Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 17; Reuters 17 April 1997). The FNLA did not carry out any more activities in Angola in the 1980s (Political Handbook of the World: 1997, 26; Mondes rebelles 1996, 520). During this period, its leader, Roberto Holden, went into exile in France, where he asked for political asylum (Political Handbook of the World: 1997, 26; Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 17). In an attempt to make a political comeback, the FNLA won only five seats in the Angolan parliament in the legislative elections of September 1992 (Political Handbook of the World: 1997, 26; Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 18; Mondes rebelles 1996, 521). According to Mondes rebelles, Roberto Holden returned to Angola in 1995 (1996, 21). The attached articles published in 1996 and 1997 show that Roberto Holden continued to be the leader of the FNLA. In his action plan presented in the context of a government of national unity and reconciliation, the leader of the FNLA proposed, among other things, that the former combatants belonging to his party, who were on South African territory at the time, be incorporated into the Angolan army and the national police (Televisao Popular de Angola 14 March 1997).

The Research Directorate was unable to find any information on the most recent leader of the FNLA in the sources consulted. For a general overview of the situation in Angola, please see "Angola: Peace at Last?", available in REFWORLD.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Balancie, Jean-Marc and Arnaud de La Grange. 1996. Mondes rebelles: acteurs, conflits et violences politiques. Vol I. Paris: Éditions Michalon.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East: A Reference Guide. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. London: Longman.

Political Handbook of the World: 1997. 1996. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, N.Y.: CSA Publications.

Reuters. 11 April 1997. BC Cycle. "Chronology of Recent Events in War-Battered Angola." (NEXIS)

Televisiao Popular de Angola [Luanda, in Portuguese]. 14 March 1997. "FNLA Presents Plan of Action for New Government." (BBC Summary 17 March 1997/NEXIS)

Balancie, Jean-Marc and Arnaud de La Grange. 1996. Mondes rebelles: acteurs, conflits et violences politiques. Vol. I. Paris: Éditions Michalon, pp. 508, 520-21.

Reuters. 11 April 1997. BC Cycle. "Chronology of Recent Events in War-Battered Angola." (NEXIS)

RTP International TV [Lisbon, in Portuguese]. 21 March 1996. "Angola; Unita Leader Would Want 'Political Responsibilities' As Vice-President." (BBC Summary 22 March 1996/NEXIS).

Televisiao Popular of Angola [Luanda, in Portuguese]. March 14, 1997. "FNLA Presents Plan of Action for new Government". (BBC Summary 17 March 1997/NEXIS)

_____.[Luanda, in Portuguese]. 1 June 1996. "Angola; UN Representative Describes Talks of June Peace Agenda". (BBC Summary 3 June 1996/NEXIS)

Africa Confidential [London]. 1991- February 1998.

Africa Research Bulletin [Oxford]. 1991-1997.

Resource Centre Country Files: Angola. 1992-March 1998.

Electronic sources: Research Directorate databases, Global News Bank, Lexis/Nexis, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR databases), World News Connection (WNC).