Human Rights

Angola, April 2004

Angola was embroiled in civil war until April 2002 when the Angolan army and Unita rebels signed a formal ceasefire in Luanda to end the 27-year civil war. The dramatic ending of the armed conflict - except in the enclave of Cabinda where there is still unrest - brought elections to the country in 2002.

The Government of Angola was pledged to hold elections again this year, but it is now talking about 2006. John Bowis was the Development Committee's Rapporteur for a Human Rights session on Angola and he stressed that it is fundamentally important that there is no further slippage in holding elections despite a complicated registration process with some 2.8 million people displaced and returning home, many from abroad.

John Bowis argued for an Independent Electoral Commission to ensure that the elections will be genuinely free and called on the Angolan Government to invite the EU to send an Electoral Observation Mission.

John Bowis also highlighed some other problems in the country. The UN has reported that 1.8 million people are dependent on food aid to survive. There is acute malnutrition in five provinces and mortality rates are at emergency levels - linked to a lack of health services and vaccinations, clean water and sanitation. A further complication is the large number of mines laid by both sides during the conflict which need to be mapped and cleared.