The Forgotten War

The Angolan civilians suffering the ravages of war

The Forgotten War As the UN pulls out of war torn Angola, the future looks bleak for those civilians inevitably affected by MPLA and UNITA clashes.
Since the Portuguese left in 1975 the MPLA and UNITA have been fighting each other for control of Angola. This has left a nation under- developed and hungry. With the MPLA controlling the government, and UNITA the rural areas, there is a lot to fight for. The irony is that Angola is a rich country. As the Mining Minister points out: "We are rich paupers… we have everything except money." The situation is quite dire and in remote areas people are dying of hunger and disease. There are critical shortages of medicine and aid convoys are often prey to UNITA attacks. The Bishop of Malange summons up the situation: "We are clearly rich enough to buy weapons, but too poor to provide food." With the UN pulling out its 8000 peacekeepers, and a volatile cease-fire, what does the future hold for Angola?

Produced by ORF
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