Congolese troops have attacked Angolan forces based in Cabinda, an Angolan enclave bordering on Congo, the Angolan Defence Ministry claimed yesterday. But the Congolese Prime Minister, Mr Bernard Kolelas, speaking from Brazzaville, charged that Angola had committed an "inadmissible aggression" in Congo.
Congolese incursions into the enclave since September 29th have left several people dead and caused extensive damage, the Angolan ministry said on state radio. It said Congolese forces had conducted "attacks by air and ground" against Angolan army and police units in Cabinda and a "continuous violation of Angolan airspace by planes coming from Congo".
The radio did not say whether the alleged attacks were led by forces loyal to Congo's President Pascal Lissouba or the private militia of the former military strongman, Gen Denis Sassou Nguesso, who have been battling each other, mainly in Brazzaville, since early June.
The Angolan statement denounced what it called "infiltration by Congolese armed forces" into Cabinda, which produces most of Angola's oil. The Angolan army reserved the right to retaliate, it added. Three armed separatist groups are among about a dozen groups calling for Cabinda's independence from Angola. Congo is sheltering around 11,000 Cabinda refugees. Militias loyal to Mr Kolelas have joined the fighting in Congo, backing presidential forces against those of Gen Nguesso, a reliable source in Brazzaville said. Entering the conflict for the first time, Mr Kolelas's so-called Ninja militia took part in a counter-offensive last week to regain control of Brazzaville's Maya-Maya airport, the source said.
The war, which broke out when President Lissouba's troops tried to disarm Gen Nguesso's militia, has claimed at least 4,000 lives. An independent source said yesterday that neither side had control of Brazzaville airport.