NEW HOT-SPOT IN AFRICA: CABINDA

The enclave of Cabinda on the west coast of central Africa is separated from Angola, to which it belongs, by a thin strip of land which gives the Democratic Republic of the Congo access to the Atlantic Ocean. Rich in oil, it has attracted the interest of…who else?…the US of A. US and French oil companies are well installed in Cabinda, as huge reserves of oil are found off its coast. Not surprisingly, there is an independence movement, called FLEC (Forces for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda) although it is unclear what this is because there are three distinct factions and it is also unclear who is behind each faction. One of these has started to target foreigners to gain international attention. Indeed this question is nothing new. In December 1960, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 1514, telling the Portuguese authorities to pull out of the territory so that a referendum for independence could be held. At the time, the colonial power, Portugal, had placed Cabinda within the territory of the province of Angola. Now, 40 years later, with the oil companies firmly in the field, the Catholic church takes up the referendum cause, pointing to the Treaties of Chunfuma (1883), Chicamba (1884) and Simulambuco (1885), in which Portugal established the territory as a Portuguese Protectorate, with a valid legal identity. After its independence in 1975, after the Portuguese Revolution in which the fascist dictatorship was overthrown and Portugal’s colonies (Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe Islands, Cape Verde and East Timor) were given independence, Angola inherited the enclave of Cabinda from the Portuguese. Angola regards Cabinda as an integral part of Angolan territory, states that this is an internal question and combats the pro-liberation factions. These accuse the Angolan Armed Forces of cruelty and the Catholic church has attacked the climate of intimidation which reigns within the enclave. Where there is oil, there are problems, especially when manipulative and intrusive foreign powers are involved, actively aiding and abetting violent factions to foster their own national interests, while at the same time hypocritically attacking other countries which have genuine histories of pacifism. Countless damage has been done around the world by interfering in local affairs which would otherwise sort themselves out. Another enclave, another oil reserve, another problem.

TIMOTHY BANCROFT-HINCHEY, PRAVDA.RU, LISBON