[24] Angola 'Pulls Out' Of DRC

Text:

http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19990224_feat1.html

Angola 'Pulls Out' Of DRC

February 24, 1999

Lusaka - Angola is reportedly pulling out of the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Media reports said the Eduardo Jose dos Santos administration was withdrawing its troops from DRC because it needs their service back home. South Africa's Daily Mail and Guardian newspapers reported that Angola's decision to pull out its air support and logistics was leaving President Laurent Kabila and his Southern African allies exposed.

The situation is reportedly leaving the forces fighting the Congolese rebels with less means to move their personnel and supplies around. The Daily Mail and Guardian reported that Angolan troops were under pressure from UNITA rebels, mostly in the central highlands, east of the capital, Luanda.

Congolese rebels have launched an offensive toward the southeastern city of Lubumbashi as Angola withdraws. Angola, Chad, Namibia and Zimbabwe have been helping the DRC government against the rebels who are backed by Rwanda and Uganda.



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