DISAGREEMENT ABOUT STRATEGY SURFACES AMONG ANGOLAN REBELS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000707040038-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2011
• Sequence Number: 38
• Publication Date: February 22, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000707040038-6
-k r
22 February 1985
Pisa reeme- nt About Strategy
Surf aces Among
AngolanRebels
UNITA Strives for Role in Regional Negotiations
Special to The Washington Post
LISBON-The Angolan rebel
movement UNITA appears to be
? overreaching :its military capacity
and is showing signs of internal dis-
sent as it intensifies guerrilla and
diplomatic activity aimed at secur-
ing a significant role in negotiations
toward a regional peace settleme at,
diplomatic observers say.
Rebel leader'Jonas Savimbi's de-
termination to achieve impressive
military successes to demonstrate
the insurgents' strength has met
with opposition from field com-
manders who fear that he is pushing
the guerrilla offensive ahead too far
and too fast, according to the as-
sessment of western analysts here.
Recent tensions within the pro-
western rebel movement have been
reflected in the rebels' acknowledg-
ment of a setback in plans to ad-
vance toward the capital of Luanda,
open disenchantment over closer
U.S. ties with the Marxist govern-
ment-and uncertainty about the sta-
*******,
The Angolan goverment claimed
that Chilingutila had been expelled
from the movement in disgrace fdl-
lowing a series-of defeats. Similar
reports said another UNITA com-
mader had defected with his troops
to the South-West Africa People's
Organization (SWAPO), the nation-
alist guerrilla movement fighting
for Namibian independence.
Western observers here said the
government reports were pro a
the result o attempts by Anttolan
milrtarv mtelhQence to A?ravatP
differences within UNITA. They
believe the ocus or iscord is op-
STAT
field to ambitious military aims fa-
vored by Savimbi.
A likely reason for the shake-up,
observers say, is to 'get UNITA
members who have been enjoying a
relatively high standard of living
ouside Angola back to the bush to
keep them sharp and avoid antag-
onism within UNITA ranks.
Wilson dos Santos said he would
be returning to the field this month
to assume his position as UNITA
head of information. He has been
acting as the organization's' spokes-
man in Europe.'
U.S. officials have made it clear
that they consider UNITA to be an
internal Angolan problem and not
part of the equation in seeking a
southern' African peace settlement.
The main issue for the Reagan ad-
ministration is for Angola-and South
Africa to reach agreement on a
Cuban pullout from Angola tied to a
withdrawal of South African troops
from Namibia and the implementa-
tion of a United Nations indepen-
dence plan.
Western diplomatic sources said
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
for African Affairs Chester A.
Crocker held private talks with
Savimbi in Cape Town during a re-
cent visit. The U.S. Embassy issued
a statement saying the United
States regularly maintains contacts
with UNITA but does not always
specify times and places. The em-
bassy declined to confirm or deny
the reports of Crocker's meeting
with Savimbi.
South Africa issued a statement
later saying Foreign Minister Roe-
lof F. (Pik) Botha held talks with
Savimbi but did not elaborate.
Angola, which has hardened its
insistence that South Africa cut off
all aid to rebels, would like to see
- more U.S. pressure on Pretoria to
this end. UNITA acknowledges that
losing South African support would
be expensive but claims it could
survive on airlifts of arms from un-
specified nations to landing strips in
the Angolan bush.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000707040038-6