Angola To Launch Civilian Disarmament Campaign

The Angola government has expressed it willingness to go ahead with plans to disarm civilians possessing illegal firearms which they obtained during the country’s 27-year civil war. 

Deputy Commander of the National Police for Public Order, ANGOP, Paulo de Almeida, said his government got the approval from the National Disarmament Commission. 

In the words of ANGOP boss``the first phase of the process of disarming of civilians, who illegally possessed firearms has started. And it involves awareness, followed by the voluntary surrender of weapons and compulsory disarming.''   

President Jose Eduardo dos Santos set up the commission, to fight the illegal proliferation of weapons which has constitute threat to security and national reconciliation after the war, which ended in 2002. 

Angola is expected to hold a long-delayed parliamentary election on Sept. 5 and 6 while the presidential elections will hold in 2009.  

Sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer has not held a national poll since a 1992. Presidential race was aborted after the first round of balloting in that country, almost leading to the resumption of the war. 

Opposition parties and foreign observers have questioned whether the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola(MPLA) government is willing to risk facing millions of voters who have benefited only marginally from Angola's oil-fuelled economic boom. 

There are fears that the elections, if delayed again or seen to be illegitimate, could widen the political divide that has existed since the conflict between the MPLA and rebels from the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

 

 Reuters/NAN/G.O.