Angolan Government, UNITA Sign Ceasefire Agreement

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, March 31, 2002

Angolan Government, UNITA Sign Ceasefire Agreement

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A memorandum of understanding for ceasefire in Angola was signed on Saturday by the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), in Luena city, eastern Moxico province.

The formal signing of the Ceasefire Protocol is expected to come in the next few days to implement Lusaka Peace Protocol to cease hostilities.

The Angolan government and UNITA rebels signed the UN-sponsoredLusaka peace accord in 1994 but the protocol was abandoned later and fighting renewed in 1999.

According to the local media, the memorandum was signed at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT) by Deputy Head of FAA General Staff, Gen. Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda and Chief of High General Staff of UNITA MilitaryForces, Gen. Abreu Muengo Ucuatchitembo "Kamorteiro", in the presence of Moxico Mayor, the UN Representative and the Troika of peace process observers from United States, Portugal and Russia.

The signing of the document was preceded by talks, that startedon March 15, which involved elite staff from the government and UNITA forces. One of the pending issues of the Lusaka Protocol is the disarmament and inclusion of UNITA forces into the FAA.

Saturday's agreement stipulates the quartering areas of UNITA military forces and the chronogram for their disarmament and respective integration in the FAA, under the Lusaka Protocol.

Coordinator of UNITA Management Commission Gen. Paulo Lukamba Gato, did not attend the signing ceremony of the memorandum on thecessation of hostilities in Angola due to calendar reasons, the commander of UNITA troops in the south region, Gen. Jose Tchiwale,told the press.

The general said that the UNITA delegation then decided to appoint Gen. Abreu Muengo Ucuatchitembo "Kamorteiro", to sign the said memorandum.

According to Tchiwale, Gen. Gato will be in Luanda, in the nextfew days, for the formal signing.

"Peace has come to Angola to stay," Tchiwale said.

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