Such an initiative could target support for microbusiness, industry agriculture, and education. Led initially by the Protestant Church, a diverse group of civil society leaders--mixing all sorts of points of view--produced a Manifesto for Peace, advocating for renewed negotiations and arguing for a role for civil society in the peace process. The appeal was made at a demonstration to … The United States and American nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) also could support networking between Angolan civil society elements and those from other countries with experience in peace advocacy or second-track negotiations.Incentives must be created for UNITA leaders remaining in the bush to have the confidence to make a choice for peace. Already, 7 percent of U.S. daily imports of oil come from Angola, a figure that could double over the coming five years. Grotesque levels of corruption within the military and political elite, poor logistical lines, and inadequate soldier care also hamper the government. This “war of dispossession,” according to the Grupo Angolano de Reflexao para a Paz (GARP, a civil society peace advocacy organization), “makes everybody vulnerable in the face of the power of the gun.” The war in Angola has raged for nearly forty years, whereas the average Angolan is only seventeen years old. For example, the Angolan government intervened decisively in both the DRC and Congo-Brazzaville wars in 1997 in support of the eventual victors, in both cases overthrowing governments deemed too supportive of UNITA. This should include addressing some of the structural reasons for continued conflict. This report is a synthesis of the most salient points broached during this briefing combined with pertinent supporting information. With each incident comes another layer of suspicion and another round of retribution that must be overcome for peace to become possible in the future.The spectacular failure of previous peace agreements haunts deliberations over any potential new initiatives. Lusaka Protocol The exhumed body of Angolan rebel chief Jonas Savimbi, who was killed in 2002, will be reburied in his hometown next month, authorities said after DNA tests confirmed the identity of the remains. Whatever the goal, Savimbi perceives war as his best option for now, buying him time as he fights for the day if/when his military and political fortunes might improve.As long as UNITA is successful on the battlefield, political and military challenges to Savimbi within UNITA will be minor.

Youth are again fleeing UNITA areas across neighboring borders to escape such a fate. Then UNITA shells them incessantly and indiscriminately. The BCC provides a unique forum in which the fundamental issues facing Angola can be discussed. To do this, UNITA will likely increase pressure on infrastructure targets, such as water and electricity, and hit where the government is vulnerable. The quality and quantity of arms the government purchased may allow it to put a dent in UNITA's capacity, but UNITA also has enhanced its already impressive arsenal. Or is there a middle option, perhaps hard to envisage now, in which other elements of UNITA beneath Savimbi are engaged diplomatically in order to lay the foundation for a future peace agreement beyond Savimbi's capacity to destroy?Before attempting to answer these questions, it is important to explore the current context. Savimbi is indeed responsible for a litany of crimes against humanity, but of course he is not alone. Other elements of UNITA could be part of a dialogue, but without associated armies these elements are not a viable alternative to Savimbi's UNITA. But such an office should also be charged with building the capacity of the Angolan government's system of justice and ability to counter human rights abuses.

Savimbi's focus on winning power by whatever means necessary, his willingness to abandon commitments made at the negotiating table, and the international community's unwillingness--however sincerely motivated--to challenge the parties when they did not comply with previous requirements all contribute to an uneasy reticence concerning next steps to counter the return to war. Police and military were unleashed--often unpaid--and they proceeded to loot and pillage areas coming under the government's control. If the government demonstrates its seriousness, donor agencies and oil companies should consider how to construct a tripartite initiative with the government that could support the rehabilitation of the productive economy of Angola. The United States should support quiet diplomatic efforts by civil society, particularly the churches, to promote dialogue. Council members pledged continued support for sanctions against Unita.In a letter to the Security Council a day later, Angola's UN Ambassador, Ismael Martins, called on the international community to redouble efforts to isolate "those who choose to wage war. Thousands of supporters of Angola's former rebel leader Jonas Savimbi rallied for his public reburial on Saturday, 17 years after he was killed by troops in a … Founding. The government has done little to demonstrate that it has any concern for civilian populations, particularly those from Ovimbundu areas. The United States realizes this and is moving to construct a new architecture of political engagement. Dissatisfied with election results in 1992, and again unhappy with the end state called for in the Lusaka Protocol, Savimbi has exercised his veto with extreme prejudice. Posted by USIP Library on: November 20, 1998