According to Country Reports 2000, the splinter UNITA group, UNITA-Renovada, is recognized and assisted by the Angolan government (2001, Section 3).

The Swiss Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR) reported in November 1999 that members of the UNITA Renovada (UNITA-R) had received, on 3 September 1998, support from Angolan authorities. Its ministers, vice-ministers and deputies reintegrated, on 23 September 1998, with the government and the parliament from which they had been suspended on 31 August of the same year (ODR Nov. 1999). UNITA-Renovada has 55 seats in the parliament, and four ministers and 10 vice-ministers in the Angolan government (ODR Nov. 1999).

Please refer to AGO32170.E of 5 July 1999 for the additional information on relations between the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the UNITA-Renovada.

Speaking in Washington at a 21 August 2000 meeting sponsored by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), "the congressionally chartered non-governmental organization (NGO) that operates democracy promotion programs overseas," Eugenio Mauvakola Ngola, president of the UNITA-Renovada party, declared it was "dedicated to working with the Angolan government to find peaceful, democratic solutions to Angola's problems, which most people believe cannot be solved by armed conflict" (US Department of State 21 Aug. 2000).

However, a 8 March 2001 IRIN report noted the following:

In recent weeks, UNITA-Renovada leaders have been increasingly vocal over what they described as an "unfinished" Lusaka peace process, and an alleged campaign of political intimidation in the provinces by the ruling MPLA. They have complained that UNITA governorships and embassy slots guaranteed under the 1994 Lusaka peace process remain unfilled, and their followers have been harassed by the authorities. One political source told IRIN that in the countryside, little distinction is made between UNITA and UNITA-Renovada, particularly in areas where Savimbi's forces are active.

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within time constraints.

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 find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 2001. United States Department of State. Washington, D.C. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/af/index.cfm?docid=658 [Accessed 10 Apr. 2001]

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). 8 March 2001. "Angola: Government Accuses Opposition of Hypocrisy." http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN/sa/countrystories/angola/20010308.phtml [Accessed 10 Apr. 2001]

Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR), Switzerland. November 1999. "Feuille d'information sur les pays: Angola." http://www.asyl.admin.ch/franz/publ3f.htm [Accessed 30 Jan. 2001]

US Department of State, Washington, D.C. 21 August 2000. Jim Fisher-Thompson and Jody Hamilton, Washington File Staff Writers. "Angolan Politicians Cite Need for Dialogue Over Armed Force: UNITA/RENOVADA and UNITA officials speak at NDI Meeting." http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/s/96F51B0AB8B4FCCD8525694A005FAC72 [Accessed 10 Apr. 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential 1998-March 2001.

Africa Research Bulletin 1998-2001.

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent 1998-April 2001.

IRB Databases.

Nouvel Afrique/Asie 1998-2001.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

Resource Centre country file. Angola. 1998 to present.

Websites, including:

Amnesty International.

Human Rights Watch.

International Crisis Group (ICG).

Inter-Church Coalition in Africa.

Mail & Guardian.

MISNA.

Panafrican News Agency.

ReliefWeb.

UN Commission for Human Rights.

Search Engines, including :

Dogpile.

Google.

Lycos.