Dokument #1202285
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
Umbundu is the language spoken by the
Ovimbundu ethnic group, which comprises about 30 to 35 per cent of
the population of Angola, while the Kimbundu ethnic group, also
called the Mbundu (OFPRA Oct. 1995, 10), constitutes 20 to 25 per
cent of the population (OSAR Feb. 1996, 7-8). According to a 20 May
1994 St. Louis Post-Dispatch report, the Kimbundu ethnic
group is of mixed - race. Members of the Ovimbundu and Kimbundu
groups can be identified by their language: while Ovimbundu speak
Umbundu, the Kimbundu (Mbundu) speak Kimbundu (OSAR Feb. 1996,
8).
According to Encyclopedia of the Third
World, the Ovimbundu are located in central and southern
Angola while the Kimbundu (Mbundu) "occupy the terrain inland from
Luanda" (1992, 41). Please see attachment for a map showing the
geographic locations of Angola's various groups.
Several reports indicate that the Kimbundu
(Mbundu) support the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of
Angola (MPLA), while the Ovimbundu generally favour the National
Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) (Current
History Apr. 1995, 185; OFPRA Oct. 1995, 10; OSAR Feb. 1996,
7-8).
According to the Organisation Suisse
d'Aide aux Réfugiés, members of the Ovimbundu
ethnic group were targeted and massacred by the government, which
accused them of being be sympathizers (OSAR Feb. 1996, 29).
According to Voice of the Resistance of the Black Cockerel, the
"ethnic cleansing campaign" was also conducted against the Umbundu
speakers in different localities of the country (6 Mar. 1993).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB 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.
References
Current History [Philadelphia].
April 1995. Vol. 94, No 591. Mark N. Katz. "Africa's Delemma:
European Borders, Contested Rule."
Encyclopedia of the Third
World. 1992. 4th. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New
York: Facts on File.
Office Française de Protection
des Réfugiés et Apatrides (OFPRA). October 1995.
Angola. Paris: OFPRA.
Organisation Suisse d'Aide aux
Réfugiés (OSAR). February 1996. Angola:
Informations pour représentant(e) d'oeuvres d'entraide.
Lausanne: OSAR.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 22 may 1994.
"Ambitious leaders Incite Ethnic Violence Column: Commentary Column
(NEXIS)
Voice of the Resistance of the Black
Cockerel [Jamba, in Portuguese]. 6 Mars 1993. "Angola - UNITA
Takeover of Huambo; UNITA Radio Commentary Reviews Significance of
Battle for Huambo."(BBC Summary 9 March 1993/NEXIS)
Attachments
Current History [Philadelphia].
April 1995. Vol. 94, No. 591. Mark N. Katz. "Africa's Delemma:
European Borders, Contested Rule," p. 185
Encyclopedia of the Third
World. 1992. 4th. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New
York: Fact on File, p. 41.
Office Française de Protection
des Réfugiés et Apatrides (OFPRA). October 1995.
Angola. Paris: OFPRA, pp. 1, 10.
Organisation Suisse d'Aide aux
Réfugié (OSAR). February 1996. Angola:
Informations pour représentant(e) d'oeuvres d'entraide.
Lausanne: OSAR, pp. 7-8, 29.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 22 may 1994.
"Ambitious leaders Incite Ethnic Violence Column: Commentary Culumn
(NEXIS)
Voice of the Resistance of the Black
Cockerel [Jamba, in Portuguese]. 6 Mars 1993. "Angola - UNITA
Takeover of Huamb; UNITA Radio Commentary Reviews Significance of
Battle for Huambo." (BBC Summary 9 March 1993/NEXIS)