Angola: Public transport between Luanda and Huila, including road conditions in 1998; control of Huambo in 1998

Specific information on public transport between the capital city of Luanda and the province of Huila could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, except for one source which in July 1998 reported that "[k]idnapping incidents on roads considered safe (Matala-Menongue in Huila province ...) make aid deliveries and commercial trade riskier" (IPS 7 July 1998). The following information is related.

In December 1998, war and displacement in Angola resumed after the "insecurity prevailing in the Benguela, Huila, Malange and Uige [provinces] spread progressively in the latter half of 1998. ... In early 1999 the war appeared to be generalised throughout the country with varying degrees of intensity" (GF June 2001).

According to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998,

... A network of government checkpoints throughout the country interfered with the right to travel. Such checkpoints serve as the principal source of income for many of the country's security service personnel. Extortion at checkpoints is routine in the centre of Luanda and pervasive on major commercial routes. While it rarely reaches the level of an absolute prohibition on travel, it does seriously restrict the movement of persons and goods in areas of the country under government control. ... Transportation links between government and UNITA-held territory were reduced sharply as a result of increased conflict (26 Feb. 1999).

In 1998, UNITA also used checkpoints and military patrols, in addition to landmines and executions to "prevent civilian populations from [leaving their home areas and] fleeing to areas of government control" (ibid.). In addition, UNITA laid anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines on roads, and on approaches to towns and villages, "many of which were de-mined at considerable expense by the international community" (ibid.). The report also states that,

Late in the year, UNITA began a major land mine campaign and planted new mines indiscriminately along roads and on approaches to towns and villages. It is impossible to estimate the number of land mines in the country, but the fear of injury and death from land mines effectively imprisoned and impoverished entire communities. There are 80,000 survivors of land mine explosions, and an unknown number of fatalities ... (ibid.).

In its 1999 annual report, The Landmine Monitor stated "in general an estimated one in every 415 Angolans has a mine-related injury, and the proportion of child casualties ranged from 41 percent to 76 percent in the heavily mined provinces of Moxico, Huila, Bie and Huambo" (n.d.).

For information on the control of the city of Huambo, please refer to AGO39601.E of 14 August 2002.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. 26 February 1999. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 18 Sept. 2002]

Geneva Foundation (GF). June 2001. Pier Giorgio Nembrini. Cities in War: Thirsty Cities - Huambo (Angola). [Accessed 18 Sept. 2002]

Inter Press Service (IPS). 7 July 1998. "Angola: Beye's Death Leaves a Void." (NEXIS)

Landmine Monitor. N.D. International Campaign to Ban Landmines. "Angola - Mine Ban Policy." [Accessed 18 Sept. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential. January 1998 to February 1999.

Africa Research Bulletin. January 1998 to February 1999.

Amnesty International.

BBC.

Human Rights Watch.

ReliefWeb.

WNC.

World News.

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