Cease-fire in Angola

After 40 years of war, Angola is to have the cease-fire its population deserves. Pravda.Ru contacts in Moxico and Luanda confirm that both MPLA and UNITA are ready to announce a cease-fire in the coming days.

It is expected that the MPLA government party in Luanda will announce a cease-fire, evoking the Protocol of Lusaka. Such a declaration would come on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of UNITA, the opposition faction, whose leader Dr. Jonas Savimbi was killed on February 20th.

UNITA leaders who have regrouped in Moxico province in eastern Angola in recent days have made it clear that the movement is about to announce a cease-fire. The Secretary-General of UNITA, Paulo Lukamba Gato, has declared that the time is right for a cease-fire.

The UNITA leadership, which has regrouped after the death of the historic leader of the party, has declared that hostilities are to cease in the territory of Angola and that negotiations are to be resumed under the Lusaka agreements, backed by the Russian Federation, the USA and Portugal, the former colonial power.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru