Angolan Troops Uncovered in Congo-Brazzaville: Another Scoop

It was in October 1997 that the government of Angola acknowledged that its forces had intervened in the fighting in Congo-Brazzaville. Angolan authorities later said all the troops had returned to Angolan territory. But while in Brazzaville, I found evidence that this was not entirely true.

Uniformed Angolan troops have been deployed at the official residence of ousted Congolese President Pascal Lissouba in Brazzaville -- apparently to prevent the Cobra militiamen who toppled him with Angolan help from looting all its furnishings.

It is not clear how many Angolans are in the capital. But this correspondent and two other journalists, the first to visit the Presidential palace since Mr. Lissouba fled the city, stumbled across a platoon-size Angolan unit camped on the palace grounds.

Accompanied by a Cobra militia commander, we were subsequently escorted through the battle-scarred building by a Portuguese-speaking soldier who identified himself as the leader of an Angolan Army commando unit.

As we walked through the ransacked rooms, the soldier spoke openly of his experiences during Angola's civil war, fighting in cities that included Cuito and Huambo. He admitted he and other Angolans have now fought against Mr. Lissouba's forces in Congo's civil war.

He laughingly described himself as an Angolan government mercenary, dispatched to assist the toppled President's rival, Denis Sassou-Nguesso and his Cobras.

The Angolans entered Congo from their northern enclave of Cabinda and, with tanks and fighter aircraft, they helped General Sassou's forces seize the Congolese port of Pointe Noire. Until now, it was not known if Angolan ground units had come as far as Brazzaville, although Angolan aircraft were seen bombing the capital.

Angola's involvement has drawn widespread international condemnation.

Many analysts and diplomats contend the Angolan intervention had two motivations -- to curb guerrilla activity by Cabindan rebels based in Congo and to punish Mr. Lissouba for his past support for Jonas Savimbi, leader of Angola's UNITA rebel movement.

A Cobra commander told reporters touring Brazzaville that Mr. Savimbi sought to return the past favors by dispatching men and arms to aid Mr. Lissouba's forces. Outside Brazzaville airport, the commander pointed to a wrecked airplane that he said crashed during the battle for the capital while attempting to deliver military supplies from UNITA. He said the plane's crewmen were all killed.