Namibia dismisses claims of secret pact with Angola

A DOCUMENT in the Portuguese language which is circulating in Namibia, stating that the Angolan parliament has agreed to enter into a defence pact with Namibia, is fake and a “fabrication”, a Government Minister said last week.

The document, which was obtained by The Namibian, consists of two parts, the first one being a purported resolution that Namibia and Angola would enter into a defence agreement. The document also contains a “speech” motivating this agreement that Angolan Defence Minister Kundi Paihama ostensibly gave in the Angolan parliament in Luanda on May 2 2006.In the “speech” reference is made to a “a latent situation” between Botswana and Namibia and that Angola would support Namibia militarily, should the situation get worse.Angola would also ostensibly assist Namibia in the same way should a similar situation arise between Namibia and South Africa.”A ‘defence protocol’ between Namibia and Angola that is currently being circulated in Namibia is a fabrication,” Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told a hastily convened media conference in Windhoek on Thursday in the presence of diplomats from Angola, South Africa and Botswana.”A news article that appeared in a weekly paper on the matter last weekend is devoid of all truth,” she emphasised.”There is no military pact, protocol or memorandum of understanding on bilateral assistance between Namibia and Angola in the event of military conflict with other SADC member states,” the Minister said.”The document was a fabrication drafted by an individual or a group who doesn’t value the existing good neighbourly and peaceful relations between Namibia and other SADC member states, including Angola, Botswana and South Africa,” she added.Namibia rejected the document that claimed Namibia and Angola had entered into a military pact to assist each other in the event of military conflict between Namibia and Botswana and on steps to be taken should South Africa get involved in a “conflict”, the Minister stressed.”The document has the potential to damage the excellent relations between Namibia, Angola, Botswana, South Africa and other SADC member states.”The Minister called on anybody with information on the origins of the false document to come forth to ensure that action was taken.The document also contains a “speech” motivating this agreement that Angolan Defence Minister Kundi Paihama ostensibly gave in the Angolan parliament in Luanda on May 2 2006.In the “speech” reference is made to a “a latent situation” between Botswana and Namibia and that Angola would support Namibia militarily, should the situation get worse.Angola would also ostensibly assist Namibia in the same way should a similar situation arise between Namibia and South Africa.”A ‘defence protocol’ between Namibia and Angola that is currently being circulated in Namibia is a fabrication,” Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told a hastily convened media conference in Windhoek on Thursday in the presence of diplomats from Angola, South Africa and Botswana.”A news article that appeared in a weekly paper on the matter last weekend is devoid of all truth,” she emphasised.”There is no military pact, protocol or memorandum of understanding on bilateral assistance between Namibia and Angola in the event of military conflict with other SADC member states,” the Minister said.”The document was a fabrication drafted by an individual or a group who doesn’t value the existing good neighbourly and peaceful relations between Namibia and other SADC member states, including Angola, Botswana and South Africa,” she added.Namibia rejected the document that claimed Namibia and Angola had entered into a military pact to assist each other in the event of military conflict between Namibia and Botswana and on steps to be taken should South Africa get involved in a “conflict”, the Minister stressed.”The document has the potential to damage the excellent relations between Namibia, Angola, Botswana, South Africa and other SADC member states.”The Minister called on anybody with information on the origins of the false document to come forth to ensure that action was taken.