91997E2354

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2354/97 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council (18 July 1997)

Subject: Role of Angolan government troops in the conquest of Zaire by Kabila

What is the Council's evaluation of the fact that Angolan government troops, with effective military support from the official Angolan army, gave assistance to Kabila's troops in conquering the territory of Zaire?

Has the Council made known its opposition to such military support, the funding for which comes from the sale of existing stocks of oil - money which should have been used for developing Angola in general and for humanitarian purposes in particular?

How can the Council explain to the people of Europe that Angola's oil reserves for the next three years have already been sold and that the profits are being used in part to purchase offensive military equipment, mainly from a country involved in the peace agreement, i.e. Russia, while the EU donates funds for the general development of the country?

Answer (13 november 1997)

According to reports which have reached the Council, it would appear that while Angolan army units gave assistance to Kabila's troops, UNITA units at the same time supported the former President MOBUTU.

Recently, the Rwandan Government publicly acknowledged the role its troops had played in the struggle for control of the country. Clearly, troops form other countries of the region were also engaged in this conflict.

The Council has condemned any external military intervention in the conflict in former Zaire and has called upon the Congolese parties to resolve the conflict by peaceful means.

Through diplomatic channels and its Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region, Mr Ajello, the Council has appealed to the governments of the countries in that region to refrain from intervening in any way.

The question of the purchase of military equipment by the Angolan Government falls outside the Council's sphere of competence. That being said, the Council certainly considers it desirable that the Angolan authorities, as well as UNITA, should allocate as much as possible of their revenue to the common development objectives identified in the Lomé Convention.