By Felix Osike
New Vision (Kampala)March 17, 2000
Kampala - A final UN report has said Angolan rebels (UNITA) are fighting along side Rwandese and Congo rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Experts investigating the violation of sanctions by UNITA received "corroborated reports" of UNITA troops and advisers and their deployment in the areas controlled by Rwanda-backed RCD rebels.
The report, released on Wednesday, said, "In January 1999, a team of anti- aircraft gunners was sent by UNITA to the DR Congo to help the Rwandan-backed rebels there." The report named the commander of the battery as a Capt. Jose Kwalo who was accompanied by a Major named Chipepe. By February 1999, the team was reported to have shot down one MIG fighter.
The report said Uganda provided facilities for the refueling of UNITA planes. "There is credible evidence that Togo provided such facilities and that planes sometimes also refuelled at Entebbe (Uganda) and in Kigali," it said. But the Minister for the Presidency, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, denied Uganda's involvement. UNITA's arms procurement, says the report, was not by means of direct contact between UNITA and arms producing countries. UNITA placed orders with arms brokers.
The report gives a detailed account of Rwanda's links with UNITA. The investigators discovered that despite past animosities arising from Rwanda's role in toppling the late Mobutu, "a number of common interests brought UNITA and Rwanda closer." The report said a catalyst for the change in relations occurred in August 1998 when two Rwandan battalions were trapped in the western DRC after Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia joined the war.
The report said in order to rescue the Rwandan battalions, Vice-President Paul Kagame initiated contact with UNITA chief Jonas Savimbi to let Rwandan troops retreat to northern Angola then controlled by UNITA forces. Savimbi granted the request. From Angola, Rwandan troops were transported by plane back home. Others stayed with UNITA troops.
