ANGOLA SAYS SOUTH AFRICAN TROOPS ATTACKED SOUTH EASTERN TOWN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00874R000100240016-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 6, 2011
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: August 11, 1986
• Content Type: MISC

Approved For Release 2011/09/06: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100240016-9
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Slug:AM-ANGOLA 1STLD (WRITETHROUGH) Date: : 08/4
Category:REURI
ANGOLA S~YS SOUTH AFRICAN TROOPS ATTACKED SOUTH EASTERN TOWN
(Eds: upnates throughout)
LISBON, kug 11, Reuter - Angola's defense ministry said today
that South Afric.,n troops attacked the strategic town of Cuito
Cuanavale some 185 miles inside southeast AngolaffsterdaAngolan news
A ministry statement quoted today by the o
agency ANGOP said the South African 32 Buffalo" battalion
backed by heavy artillery attacked Angolan forces and shelled
Cuito Cuanavale in Cuando Cubango province.
There were no details of casualties.
Angola's UNITA rebels said their
attacked Cuito Cuanavale
equipment, anti-aircraft weapons and artillery.
South-African backed UNITA (National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola) has said Angolan government forces are
preparing to launch a major drive against its soueastsbases.
In Pretoria, a South African military ,spo th
defense force saw no point in commenting on these latest
allegations, adding that it had been the target of Angolan
claims for many months.
A short statement said the South African defense force
operated against '%terrorists wherever they may be" and
accused the Luanda government of aiding guerrillas.
Pretoria has often declined comment on Angolan reports of
South Africa incursions but has acknowledged several raids in
pursuit of guerrillas. which was
The Angolan ministry statement in the ANGOP report,
monitored in Lisbon, said South-African air and land
reconnaissance patrols had also been detected in southern
Cunene province over the last five days moving toward the towns
of Cahama, Mupa and Mulondo.
It added that South African planes and helicopters had also
moved troops and equipment'to north of Chiede in Cunene
province and motorized units were concentrated along the border
of neighboring South African-administered Namibia (South West
Africa).
Angola's Marxist government has in the past accused South
Africa of maintaining troops inside its southern provinces an
of attacking Angolan troops and positions in suppot of
Luanda has also alleged that UNITA guerrillas and South
African troops have fought side by side against Angolan forces.
The ministry statement said the increase in South African
military activity inside Angola was an attempt by Pretoria to
heighten tension in theregion
nlaahead of Za imbabwe. summit of
non-aligned countries to
Cuito Cuanavale, scene of the latest fighting, is a strategic
jumping-off point for Angolan government troop operations in
the largely_UNITA-controlled southeast.
UNITA said Fridaa were Angolan troops pushng air
support and Cuban regiments
Approved For Release 2011/09/06: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100240016-9
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Approved For Release 2011/09/06: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100240016-9
Current listing of: T553:2 08/11/86 19:21 Page: 2
19:21 Mavinga, a UNITA stronghold 90 miles southeast of Cuito
Cuanavale.
It was at Mavinga that UNITA last year halted a big government
offensive after heavy fighting.
The Angolan statement also denied allegations by South
African-backed security forces in Namibia last month that the
Angolan army and Namibian nationalist guerrillas were planning
a joint military operation in northern Namibia.
It said the allegations were an attempt to distract public
opinion from operations by South Africa's own forces.
UNITA, which earlier this year received a pledge of military
aid from the United States, has fought the government of
Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos since the country
became independent from Portugal in 1975.
REUTER 1917
Approved For Release 2011/09/06: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100240016-9