African Activist Archive

The testimony discusses recent developments in Angola. Portuguese troops and administrators will soon leave Angola. Unlike the smooth transitions in Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, three movements are competing for power in Angola, a transitional government of the three groups having fallen apart. Angola's vast resources and strategic importance in relation to the future of southern and central Africa have led to intervention by external powers. The Senate is considering an amendment to the foreign economic assistance act to provide $30 million for "economic and relief and rehabilitation assistance" to the former Portuguese territories. Mounting evidence suggest that the U.S. is aggressively interfering in the internal affairs of Angola, with the apparent goal of weakening the MPLA. The New York Times has revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency has been buying arms for the two liberation movements which are fighting the MPLA - the FNLA and UNITA, disbursing the arms mostly through the Zaire government of President Mobutu. Lockwood recommends that Congress urge the Administration to influence South Africa to halt its invasion of Angola. Press reports document an alarming penetration into Angola by South African troops, extending over 100 miles inside the country. The U.S. should end all direct or indirect intervention in the Angolan civil war and should seek the co-operation of all non-Angolan powers in ensuring a de-escalation.

African Activist Archive

STATEMENT OF EDGAR LOCKWOOD, DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON OFFICE ON AFRICA, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL FOOD, RESOURCES AND ENERGY OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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