Saturday, 9 January 2010

Cabinda-some background


The attack on the Toga football team as it entered Angola to take part in the African Cup of Nations has highlighted one little known area of the country and why conflict still rages in the country.

Cabinda is an enclave of Angola separated from the country's mainland by the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. While it's a part of Angola, local rebels dispute its status, and battle for independence.

It's been part of the country since 1975 but various armed and political groups have vied for Cabinda's independence since its absorption.

At the centre of the dispute is oil of which Cabinda is home to a considerable majority of Angola's oil reserves.The rebels believe that far too much of the profits from these fields ends up in Luanda.

The group FLEC-PM (Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda - Military Position) have claimed responsibility for the attack,issuing a statement saying that

"The CAF (Confederation of African Football) was warned repeatedly that this was a country at war. They had documents explaining this, but they wouldn't heed the warnings. They must take responsibility. We are not rebels, but a military and political movement originating in Cabinda. We're not rebels, but resistance fighters. Cabinda is a territory illegally occupied by Angola, and we are fighting for its liberation..

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