Cafunfo / Angola: “It all started like this” in Cabo Delgado – police commander-general

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Cafunfo / Angola: “It all started like this” in Cabo Delgado – police commander-general

5:59 CAT | 04 Feb 2021

Photo: Lusa

The commander-general of the Angolan National Police said on Tuesday that the situation in the north of Mozambique, with attacks by armed groups, began with just such an incident as happened on Saturday in Cafunfo, Lunda Norte province, in Angola.

Police Commander-General Paulo de Almeida was clarifying to journalists in Luanda the events that unfolded in the Cafunfo diamond-mining area, where a demonstration culminated in an attempt to invade a police station, in which six people died, five were wounded and 16 arrested.

“Do not ignore these situations that are occurring, do not get carried away. I will give a simple and concrete example. Do you know what is happening in Mozambique? What is Mozambique like, at the moment, in Cabo Delgado province? It all started like this. And today, it is a brother country that is in distress, calling for international support to return to peace,” de Almeida said.

According to de Almeida, the situation cannot be ignored. There are principles, causes to be defended.

“And we are the defenders, because we are the ones who are going to suffer. If there is war in Angola, we are all of us the ones who will suffer: this war which tore us all apart for years. Think about it. Do not get carried away by certain external influences, because they will never want the good of Angola. No matter what government is here to fight for the good of Angola, never will certain external influences want that. You have to take that into account,” he said.

Also read: Angola and Mozambique: Ministers led delegations analysing defence and security in mid-January

Paulo de Almeida praised the reaction by Angola’s police, which he said were among the best on the African continent.

“It is one of the best. Even with our shortcomings, our difficulties, our ‘penteadores and mixeiros”, we still have a very well-organised, proactive police force. We have the best results,” he said.

The demonstration was scheduled for Saturday, but was not authorised by the provincial authorities. Nevertheless, according to the police, at 04:00 a.m., a group of about 300 people went to the police station armed with firearms, bladed weapons and cudgels, and tried to invade the building, resulting in the death of six demonstrators and five wounded, including two police and members of the armed forces. Sixteen arrests were made.

The protest was promoted by the Movement of the Portuguese Protectorate Lunda Tchokwe, which claimed days in advance that the authorities intended to make the demonstration impossible through intimidation.

Source: Lusa