Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Peace force under fire in Angola

Karl Maier
Tuesday 31 May 1994 19:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

LUANDA - United Nations aircraft came under fire in the embattled Angolan cities of Malange and Huambo yesterday as both the government and Unita rebels ignored guarantees they had given that the flights would be safe, writes Karl Maier.

Jonas Savimbi's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita) had guaranteed that the World Food Programme (WFP) could send an aircraft to Malange, a besieged government- held city, to evacuate aid workers, but rebel gunners fired mortars at the airport as the aircraft was landing.

Five minutes after another WFP plane touched down in the rebel stronghold of Huambo, two government jets staged an air raid, dropping one bomb 600 metres from the airport. Two more fell in the town, which has been the target of government air raids for the past three days. The UN had received a guarantee from the government that its planes could land there safely.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in