Weekly Summary
ANGOLA; AFTER INDEPENDENCE
The ccnintr/i" first days ol independence have been marked by more lighting between forces of the two rival "regimes" thai are vying for recognition as the legitimate government With the continuing efforts of the Africans' regional organization toruce apparently getting
nowhere, the outlook is stillrotracted military struggle in which the foreign support go-
ing to the two sides may be decisrve.
Novembe Jnion announcea that its forces, which are operating with elements of the National front, had taken Malanfe, one of the Popular Movement's few remaining strongholds in central Angola. Its fallide gap between the Movement's forces in Luanda and important units operating from Henrique de Car-valho.
Forces of the' National Front that have been moving toward Luanda from the south apparently reached Condo this week, putting them dose to the hydroelectric plant that supplies power to Luanda. North of the capital, the Front may be about to abandon itstor nearly abreak through the Popular Movement's defenses around Quifangando Instead, the Front may tn/ to move on the capita from the east.
strongiy
n Cabinda. where the Popular Movement is entrenched, its forces apparently
" On the political level, the luanda-based Popuiar Movement regime headed by Agostlnho Neto late last week installed an 1fi-man cabinet in which,Neto's lieutenant, Lopo de Nascimento, holds the post of prime minister. He was the Movement's principal representative in the four-patty transitional government that collapsed last summer. Both the political and military wings of the Popular Movement are represented in the cabinet. The rival Nationalational Unioneanwhile, has had trouble get-
1 WEEKLY SUMMARY
iins off theeadership slate has mil not been announced, but it now appears that neither National from leade* Holden Roberto nor the National Union's Jonas Savimbi will take top positions.esitant tolosely linked with the joint government, which they both regardarriage or convenience roocus for anti-Soviet foreign supporl.
Foreign Reaction
Partly because of ihe existence o* theregimes, mostthe bulk ofmembe' states of the Organization of African Unity-are withholding recognition from either Angola claimant. Someovernments,ihe USSR. Cuba, ten other Commumst country, and ten African states, have recognized Neto's government, however, while no state has formally accepted the Nationalational Union regime. This week. Neto's peoplesought admission to the current meeting in London of the International Coffee Council.
The Organization of African Unity is stillto resolve the Angolan situationovernment of national unity, but its efforts nave been impaired by the failure of the ten Africanradicalhave recognized Neto io abide by the OAU's request to remain neutral. Other OAU members want to avoid any further division over the Angola issue. At present, OAU Chairman Amin's proposal lor sending an African peacekeeping force to Angola and calls by Somaliaummit meeting and by Ethiopiaoreign ministers' conference show little sign of getting off the ground.
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At present, there is no firm evidence thai Moscow is ptanningMBMftsupply flights to Angola soon. Ihe Soviets wilt be watching the military situation closely, however, and may well provide further support to the Popularif its fortunes continue to decline.
The USSR has had torice in black Africa for its strong military and diplomaticof Neto's regime, although Soviet leaders presumably hadrior determination that the prospect of gaining significant influence in southern Africa was worth theumber of African states have been particularly upset by ihe Kremlin's flouting of theall for neutrality in the Angolan dispute.
Ihe Cubans have, almost .certainly become more directly involved in the Angolan fighting since the tide of battle turned against the Popular Movement lasi month. They probably played an important role, for example, in the Movement's successful defense, so far, of Its position in Cabin-da. If Moscow has provided Neto with fighterthey most likely would be flown by Cuban pilots.
Peking H
The Chinese, who have long viewed the Angolan strife in the broader coniext of Sino-Sovlet rivalry, have taken ill-concealed delight in the African backlash io Moscow's heavy-handed involvement with Ihe Popular' Movement. Peking's media have been saturated with replays of ami-Soviet articles and statements from numerous African capitals, and Chinese propagandists haveumber of articles clearly aimed at fanning African emotions,
Cuban Involvement
Concurrent with the Soviet supply airlifts, Havana, probablyudge from Moscow, has stepped up its airlift of troops to support the Popular Movement's military operations, Cubans have advised and trained Neto's forces for years, both In Cuba and in Africa. The number of Castro's people involved in the situation has risen sharply in recent months, particularly since the end of September when the airlift apparently began.
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Original document.
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