Angola [AGO4900]

The most recent comprehensive report (1987-1988) available on Angolan-Namibian relations indicates that Angola supported the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) operations in Namibia, whereas South Africa-administered Namibia (before 21 March 1990) provided aid and shelter to Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) guerrillas [ Legum C. ed. Africa Contemporary Record: Annual Survey and Documents 1986-1987 (New York and London: Africana, 1988), p.B626.]. Angola was indeed a signatory of the December 22nd, 1988 agreement on the independence of Namibia, along with South Africa and Cuba ["South-Western Africa" Africa Research Bulletin, 15 March 1989, p.9173; "Atmosphère tendue à la signature des accords sur l'Angola et la Namibie" La Presse, 28 December 1988, p.B5.]. Upon signing the agreement, the South African government officially stopped its support to UNITA [ Diallo S. "Savimbi: le peuple angolais devra choisir" Jeune Afrique, no.1487, 5 July 1989.]. During the December 1988 UN conference on the independence of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, president of SWAPO, along with Southern African leaders, urged the American administration to stop providing support to UNITA rebels [ "Six Front-Line Leaders Urge Bush to End Support of Angolan Rebels" Globe and Mail, 28 December 1988, p.A10.]. In March 1989, according to Sam Nujoma, UNITA fighters were given identity cards for the elections, thus permitting South Africa to influence the voting partially [Nujoma S. "In Namibia, Jubilation and Caution" New York Times, 31 March 2989, p.A35.]. In summer 1989, SWAPO's leader further expressed his concern with Angola, stating that peace in that country was crucial to Namibia [ Gottinger V. "Les confidences de Sam Nujoma" Jeune Afrique, 19 July 1989.]. Namibia and Angola, moreover, still have border problems [ "Angola: Courting Washington" Africa Confidential, vol.30, no.3, 3 February 1989.].