U.N. Imposes Sanctions on Angolan Rebels
The United Nations slapped Angolan rebels with a fuel and arms embargo Sunday in an attempt to force an end to Angola’s civil war.
The U.N. Security Council decided Sept. 15 to impose the embargo on Jonas Savimbi’s rebel movement, with a grace period that ended Sunday, unless a cease-fire and 1991 peace accords were respected.
If no progress is made by Nov. 1, the council will impose further measures, such as limiting travel of rebel officials or freezing the group’s assets abroad.
Sunday’s action was the first time the United Nations has imposed sanctions against a rebel army and not a government.
Approximately 450,000 Angolans have died since civil war broke out on the eve of independence from Portugal in 1975. The 1991 peace accords led to the country’s first multi-party elections last September, but fighting erupted again after Savimbi refused to accept the results.
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