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Angola: Armed activities in Catete, Icolo E Bengo, and in Bengo (October 2000 - August 2001)

The following reports, in reverse chronological order, describe the situation prevailing in some localities of the province of Bengo because of armed activities.

A 5 July 2001 AFP article noted that the last rebellion attack on the locality of Catete was conducted at the beginning of the year. The article added that Catete has been attacked previously several times during by the same rebellion.

Some June 2001 reports stated that on 2 June 2001, UNITA has attacked an Ambriz-based military school based in northern province of Bengo (AFP 6 June 2001; ibid. 5 June 2001; RNA 2 June 2001).

A 20 June 2001 OCHA report stated that "during May [2001], attacks on Caxito (Bengo Province) and Colungo Alto (Kuanza Norte Province) led to the temporary displacement of more than 100, 000 people."

According a 31 May 2001 AFP article, members of humanitarian organizations were authorized to resume their activities in the town of Caxito, [translation] "one month after the Angolan armed rebellion had attacked the town leaving about 100 dead and 100 disappeared." The article added that during the evaluation mission in the province of Bengo, members of humanitarian organizations found the localities of Caxito, Porto-Quipiri and Cambambe of the Bengo province "almost deserted" (ibid.)

A 21 May Africa Analysis report refers to UNITA's "deadly two-pronged attacks on Caxito, the capital of Bengo, killing about 200 people while thousands of residents fled the town of 50, 000 in the direction of Luanda, 50 km away.

Without specifying the localities where attacks have been occurred, The Guardian revealed that "the UNITA rebel movement has sharply escalated military activity in Angola with a series of attacks in Uige and Bengo provinces which have left more than 100 civilians dead and seen the kidnapping of 60 children between 10 and 18 (14 May 2 001)

Some March 2001 AFP articles noted that the province of Bengo was one of those that have been targeted by the UNITA attacks (AFP 30 Mar. 2001; ibid. 15 Mar. 2001; ibid. 14 Mar. 2001) and from where many residents have fled (AFP 15 Mar. 2001).

No mention of armed activities in Icolo E Bengo could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 July 2001. Manuel Muanza. "Onze milles families refusent de quitter Boa Vista, un taudis de Luanda (Reportage)." (AFP Mail/NEXIS)

_____. 6 June 2001. "Savimbi reconnaît la déroute de sa stratégie de guerre conventionnelle." (AFP mail/NEXIS)

_____. 5 June 2001. "L'UNITA affirme avoir tué 58 militaires et 17 policiers gouvernementaux." (AFP mail/NEXIS)

_____. 31 May 2001. "L'ONU autorise les humanitaires à reprendre leurs activités à Caxito." (AFP Mail/NEXIS)

_____. 30 March 2001. "L'UNITA affirme avoir tué 104 militaires et policiers gouvernementaux." (AFP Mail/NEXIS)

_____. 15 March 2001. "10, 000 villageois qui ont fui la campagne confrontés aux maladies (ONU)." (AFP Mail/NEXIS)

_____. 14 March 2001. "L'UNITA affirme avoir tué 171 militaires et policiers gouvernementaux." (AFP Mail/NEXIS)

Africa Analysis. 21 May 2001. "News Focus UNITA Fighting on for Peace Luanda." (Financial Times Information/NEXIS)

The Guardian [Johannesburg]. 14 May 2001. Victoria Brittain. "UNITA Attacks Block Progress on Peace: Angolan Rebels Responds to Olive Branch with more Violence." (Financial Times Information/NEXIS)

UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 20 June 2001. "Humanitarian Situation in Angola Monthly Analysis: May 2001." <http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/Rwb.nsf/s/F3412FDEEF8C281B85256A71005C1BE5> [Accessed23 Aug. 2001]

Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) [Luanda, in Portuguese]. 2 June 2001. "Angolan Armed Forces Repulse UNITA on Ambriz 2 June." (BBC Summary 4 June 2001/NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential. October 2000-2001.

Africa Research Bulletin 2000-2001.

Amnesty International. Amnesty International Reports. 2001.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 2001. Electronic Version.

IRB Databases.

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent. 2000-2001.

Keesing's Record of World Events 2000-2001.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

Resource Centre country file. Angola. 2000-2001.

Internet sites including:

All Africa News.

Angola Peace Monitor.

Human Rights Watch.

MISNA.

Reliefweb.

UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate